In Moga (Punjab), March 14, Union Minister Amit Shah stated on Saturday that the BJP will contest the 2027 elections independently, aiming to form a government in Punjab, where it had only been a junior partner to the SAD, and promised to introduce an anti-conversion law and eliminate the drug problem in the state, urging voters to give the party one chance to bring about change.
Addressing a "Badlav" (change) rally in Moga, the senior BJP leader said that the people of the state had given numerous opportunities to the Congress, the Akalis, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), but these parties had failed to deliver.
"Today, Punjab has been destroyed due to debt, drugs, religious conversions, corruption, and the activities of gangsters," Shah said, asserting that only the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi can solve the state's problems.
Criticizing the Bhagwant Mann government over the drug menace and law and order issues, he promised that the drug trade would be eliminated within two years if the BJP came to power in 2027.
Accusing the Mann government of being riddled with corruption, Shah alleged that it has become an "ATM" for AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal.
Shah also vowed to introduce a law to prevent illegal religious conversions in Punjab if the BJP forms the government in the 2027 assembly elections, while reiterating that peace and development in Punjab are only possible under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Targeting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who was a comedian before entering politics, Shah said that Punjab does not need a chief minister who only makes people laugh, but one who can govern the state effectively.
Citing a report, Shah said that 45% of the country's drug trade occurs in Punjab alone.
"We scrapped Article 370 in J&K. Today, Naxalism is on the verge of being eradicated," he said, adding that terrorism is also nearing its end.
Shah, who was wearing a saffron turban, said that if anyone can free Punjab from drugs and other problems, it is only Narendra Modi and the BJP.
"The AAP doesn't have the capability to end the drug menace; the Congress and Akalis have already failed. If anyone can solve the state's problems, it is only Narendra Modi and the BJP," Shah said.
Addressing the rally, Shah said that the elections will be held in 2027, and from Moga, the BJP is launching its election campaign. "I have come to appeal to the people of Punjab," the Union Minister said, seeking their support for his party.
Many party leaders, including BJP leaders Tarun Chugh, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar, and Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma, were present at the rally. Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who had recently undergone a knee surgery, was not present, although his wife Preneet Kaur was present.
Without naming any party, Shah, who had previously been a part of the government in Punjab as a junior partner to the Akalis, told the gathering, "Whenever we came before you, we came in the role of a younger brother. We could not have formed the government (on our own)."
"But today, I am saying that in the 2027 elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party will contest elections to form its government in Punjab," he said.
The Shiromani Akali Dal had snapped its 24-year-old alliance with the BJP in September 2020 over the now-repealed farm laws. The SAD-BJP combine had formed the government in the state three times – 1997-2002, 2007-12, and 2012-17, with the BJP being the junior partner.
Attacking the AAP government, Shah said, "There is no government in this state. Had there been a government, the law and order situation would not have been so; the state would not have been reeling from the drug menace, and farmers would not have been suffering. Mann has only been acting as Kejriwal's pilot," Shah said.
He alleged that the Bhagwant Mann government is "drowned" in corruption. "CM Mann should be ashamed that four 'subedars' from Delhi were sitting in the state and sending out all its wealth," Shah said, listing alleged scams.
"Can this corrupt government do any good to Punjab? The AAP government in Punjab has become an ATM for Arvind Kejriwal. It is playing with Punjab's dignity," he alleged.
Give one chance to the BJP, he said, "We will bring a change in Punjab."
Shah questioned the Mann government over its poll promises, asking whether it fulfilled its pledges like giving a minimum support price on all crops and increasing the old age pension amount.
The AAP came to power promising a change, said Shah.
"I want to ask the AAP leaders, what is your Chief Minister (Bhagwant Mann) doing?" he said.
Shah said that in the entire country, where Arvind Kejriwal has to go, Mann accompanies him like a "pilot" in a state government plane (helicopter) on the Punjab government's expenses.
"Other than being his (Kejriwal's) pilot, this CM (Mann) has done nothing else," he said.
He targeted the AAP government over poll promises as he asked the gathering whether they had got 25 lakh jobs, 16,000 government dispensaries and Rs 2,500 widow pension and old age pension.
Referring to alleged irregularities under the Mann government, Shah mentioned the alleged Moga outdoor advertisement scam, Amritsar Smart city, Jalandhar Smart city projects scam, Barnala truck union land scam, Khadoor Sahib Panchayat fund scam, Anganwadi 'Panjiri' scam, and spending of over Rs 800 crore on advertisements.
Attacking the state government over the law and order in the state, Shah said three village sarpanches have been killed in 2026, gangsters were extorting money from people and an assistant sub-inspector was killed in a police chownki.
Highlighting the initiatives taken for the Sikh community, Shah spoke about the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, observing Veer Bal Diwas and reopening files related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Attacking the Congress, Shah accused it of orchestrating attack on Akal Takht.
Terrorism came during the Congress regime, and there was a fight between Hindus and Sikhs, he said. Punjab's development, Punjab's peace is not possible without Sikh-Hindu unity and this can be possible under Modi's leadership, he said.
Shah lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for saying that had Jawaharlal Nehru been alive, then BSP founder Kanshi Ram would have been a chief minister.
"Rahul Baba who are you to appoint. Kanshi Ram ji was a big leader. What did Nehru do with B R Ambedkar ji? He (Ambedkar) was defeated in elections," said Shah.
On the India-US trade deal, Shah slammed both the AAP government and the Congress, accusing them of misleading farmers.