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**Summary:**

A major political crisis has erupted in Punjab, India, following the deaths of 27 people from consuming tainted liquor. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is facing intense criticism from opposition parties and even one of its own MLAs, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, who accuses the government of enabling various “mafias,” including those involved in the liquor trade. The opposition is calling for the Chief Minister and Excise Minister to be held accountable, drawing parallels to past tragedies. Ironically, this crisis comes as AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann launch a “Drug-Free March,” claiming success in combating drug issues in the state.

**News Article:**

**Punjab Government Embroiled in Crisis After Spurious Liquor Deaths; Own MLA Alleges ‘Mafia’ Control**

**CHANDIGARH -** The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is under fire after 27 people died after consuming illicit liquor. The situation was further complicated when an AAP MLA, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, publicly accused the government of failing to control various “mafias,” including those involved in the production and distribution of illegal alcohol.

Speaking to the media in Amritsar, Singh, a former police officer, directly criticized the Chief Minister and party leadership, stating, “Our government is a failure. Every kind of ‘mafia’… has become part of our party and is flourishing. I feel embarrassed.”

The opposition seized upon Singh’s statements. Congress Leader Partap Singh Bajwa called the government’s claims of progress “hollow” and demanded that the Chief Minister and Excise Minister be charged with murder. Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla derided the government’s “war on drugs” campaign as disconnected from reality and called for a high-level judicial inquiry into drug- and liquor-related deaths. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu echoed these sentiments, accusing the government of protecting criminals and drug smugglers.

The crisis is particularly embarrassing for the AAP as its leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, launched a “Drug-Free March” on Friday. At the event, Kejriwal asserted that the government had “cracked the backbone of drugs” in Punjab and predicted the state would soon be free from the problem.

The deaths and accusations of government complicity have created a major political challenge for the AAP in Punjab. The situation is expected to escalate as opposition parties push for greater accountability and investigations into the alleged “mafia” activities.

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