"Serious allegations, he did not appear normal": Devendra Fadnavis on Punjab CM's alleged intoxication row

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 2 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the allegations against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann are "very serious", adding that the latter "did not appear normal" during the proceedings in the state assembly.
Fadnavis' statement comes amid allegations that Bhagwant Mann appeared inebriated during proceedings in the state Legislative Assembly.
However, Maharashtra CM refrained from making a statement over the controversy, stating that he lacks concrete details on the incident.
"I do not have specific information regarding this; however, from the video I watched, he did not appear to be behaving normally. Since I lack concrete details, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the matter, but if such allegations are made, it is very serious," he said.
In the Punjab assembly, a heated confrontation broke out between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition Congress on Friday over allegations against Mann. Congress leaders demanded that the Chief Minister undergo an alcohol test, claiming that he appeared to have come "drunk" to the Assembly.
The situation escalated as both sides traded accusations on the floor of the House, turning the proceedings into a stormy session.
LoP in the Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa also criticised Mann for allegedly being drunk and called for an immediate dope test.
"What should we even do coming to the Assembly where the Chief Minister is in an inebriated state? What is the purpose of holding a session when the head of state is completely sozzled? We demand that everyone's test be conducted," he said.
Responding to the accusations, Mann told ANI, "They have no issues to raise. What test should be done?"
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta also criticised Mann, calling the episode "disgraceful" and a matter of concern for the country.
"Shame on you, it's disgraceful. In the temple of democracy, no state head should show up in an inebriated state and bring shame to the entire state. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been seen by the world hundreds of times inebriated at public events, but today it crossed all limits when the entire country saw his condition--how he was speaking in the assembly while intoxicated," she said. (ANI)