Ludhiana, June 21 (IANS) Launching a scathing attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, BJP President Nitin Nabin on Sunday said the time has come to punish the state government and the Chief Minister for “insulting the Gurus”.

Accusing the government of pushing the state into a fiscal abyss, Nabin alleged that Punjab has been used as an “ATM” through reckless borrowing and promised that every single penny would be accounted for.

Nabin was addressing a convention of more than 8,000 sub-circle (shakti kendra) workers and party office-bearers in Ludhiana.

Coming on the heels of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s massive rally in Moga, Nabin’s high-level organisational meeting strongly signalled that the BJP is preparing to contest the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections on its own strength.

“For the people of Punjab, nothing stands above the honour and respect of our Gurus,” Nabin said.

“How can a state tolerate a government whose own Chief Minister insults our Gurus? The time has come for the public to penalise such an administration.”

Focusing on the state’s economic health, the BJP chief said Punjab has been burdened with a staggering debt of Rs 4 lakh crore.

He alleged that Central funds worth crores, disbursed over the past few years, had been siphoned off by fraudsters.

“The Punjab government has delivered next to nothing for the public while actively putting people’s lives and livelihoods at risk. Human life has lost its value under this regime. Following the 2027 elections, we will recover every penny looted from Punjab,” he said.

Nabin said Punjab is currently reeling under a triple crisis of rampant drug abuse, gangsterism and mounting debt.

He maintained that only the BJP possesses the political will to rescue the state from this situation.

“The BJP delivers on its promises. We promised the abrogation of Article 370, and we fulfilled it. In Kashmir, where Pakistani flags once flew, peace has finally returned, and the youth have integrated into the mainstream,” Nabin said.

Highlighting the achievements of the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nabin said that 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty, nearly four crore houses have been built under the PM Awas Yojana, and millions of women have been empowered through targeted welfare schemes.

“The BJP governs 22 states across India, driving rapid development nationwide. However, because Punjab lacks a ‘double-engine government’, its people are being deprived of these benefits and the state is lagging behind,” Nabin said.

He appealed to the electorate to vote out the current administration, stating that the party’s ultimate objective is a powerful, prosperous and Viksit Punjab.

Nabin urged party workers to step out of their comfort zones and launch a grassroots campaign.

“Every BJP worker must reach every home, neighbourhood, village and city to communicate the welfare policies of the PM Narendra Modi-led government and expose the state government’s misgovernance. If we put in our full strength, every booth committee will transform into a development and heritage committee, working towards Sarbat da Bhala (the welfare of all),” he added.

–IANS

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