Chandigarh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched a sharp political attack on opposition parties during a rally in Punjab, claiming that the historic Sikh shrine of Kartarpur Sahib could have remained in India if the country had been led differently at the time of Partition.

Leading his speech with the Kartarpur issue, Shah said that if the BJP had been in power during Partition, the shrine associated with Guru Nanak would not have gone to Pakistan. “If we were there at that time, Kartarpur Sahib would have been in Punjab today. We would never have allowed it to go,” he said, while accusing previous governments of neglecting Sikh interests.

Highlighting steps taken by the BJP-led government, Shah said the Modi administration opened the Kartarpur Corridor to facilitate visa-free pilgrimage for devotees. He also said the government took action in cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, reopened investigations and ensured compensation for affected families.

Shah then shifted focus to the political situation in Punjab, launching a strong attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government. Taking a dig at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Shah said the state needed serious leadership to tackle its problems.

“Punjab needs a Chief Minister, not a comedian,” Shah said, accusing the AAP government of failing to control drugs, gangster networks and deteriorating law and order in the state.

He alleged that Punjab was facing a serious drug menace and claimed that gangster activities and extortion had increased under the current administration. Shah said incidents of violence, gang rivalry and targeted killings had raised concerns about the state’s law and order situation. “The youth of Punjab are being destroyed by drugs and gangsters are operating freely,” he said.

Shah also attacked the AAP government for what he called unfulfilled promises. Referring to the party’s election commitments, he questioned whether the promised jobs, drug-free Punjab and improved governance had been delivered.