Drug Menace Takes Centre Stage as Rahul Launches Punjab Poll Campaign
In Short
Rahul Gandhi launches the Congress poll campaign in Punjab, targeting the AAP government over the drug menace and calling for jobs and a drug-free state.
Kick-starting the poll rally at Sangrur in Punjab on Wednesday, LoP Rahul Gandhi targeted the AAP government mainly on the issue of the drug menace.
Addressing the ‘Insaaf Rally’, he recalled his interaction with slain singer Sidhu Moosewala. Rahul said, “Many years back, I had said that drugs are spreading in Punjab. The BJP and the Akali Dal at that time said Rahul Gandhi does not know anything about Punjab, downplaying the drug menace. Today, ‘chitta' (adulterated heroin) is a major issue in the state.”
Rahul began his speech by asking the gathering, “How's your mood today?”
He said he had a plan for his speech but changed it following the meeting he had with the slain singer Sidhu Moosewala's father, Balkaur Singh. He then recalled his meeting with Moosewala years back, when he did not know much about him.
“A few years ago, I had met Sidhu Moosewala when he had come to see me in my office. I did not know him at the time. He came across as an impressive young man. He had a tattoo. I had not listened to his songs then. I was told that he was a good person, a musician, and wanted to join the Congress. He was a dynamic, talented young man and we made him join the party,” Rahul said.
“I felt that he ought to be made to feel comfortable as he was a newcomer to politics. He was probably Punjab's most talented singer, who could also one day make a mark in politics,” the LoP said.
Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popular as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29, 2022.
“Punjab's voice used to come out in his songs, which I listened to later,” he added.
Rahul said, “His security was removed one day he was killed in broad daylight.” Gandhi said when he visited Moosewala's residence later, his father told him that there cannot be a greater pain than seeing the death of one’s son.
“People need a government that works for Punjab. Not like AAP, which is run from Delhi,” the Lok Sabha leader of the opposition said.
“Tell me, which poll promises did it fulfil?” Rahul asked the crowd, urging them to vote for Congress for jobs and a drugs-free Punjab.
Reiterating his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate on the latter’s charge that Congress is anti-national. He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the government was ready to hold a special session of Parliament for discussion on all issues. “But you switch off my mic; you let me speak in Parliament,” he asked Modi to come anywhere, sit with him and debate.
A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.
