AINRC-BJP committed ‘sin’ by allowing manufacture of counterfeit drugs in Puducherry: AICC leader

The AINRC-BJP government has committed a “sin” by “allowing Puducherry to be used for the manufacture of counterfeit drugs,” national spokesperson of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Pawan Khera said in the Union Territory (UT) on Saturday (January 31, 2026).

“The fake drugs case is not merely an issue of corruption, but a sin committed on the people of Puducherry. No religion will forgive sinners like the leaders of the ruling AINRC and BJP. Photographs of the kingpin in the drugs case with top BJP leaders have surfaced. People will vote against these sinners to remove the stain from Puducherry,” the Congress leader said, addressing a press conference at the PCC office. 

Listing out the “failures” of the AINRC-BJP government, Mr. Khera said instead of developing schools and colleges, it focused on opening resto bars. Corruption was “widely prevalent”, leading to the arrest of even the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department. The Puducherry government was trying to sell its assets, including the power sector, to Adani, he alleged.

“When the Congress returns to power after the [2026] Assembly polls, we will put governance first and bring change to Puducherry. We will ensure that the guilty and those who supported the culprits will get punished. The people of Puducherry are looking for a change,” he said. 

On the BJP’s campaign on the benefits of having a “double engine” government – referring to governments of the same alliance at the Centre and in the UT – the Congress leader said it was against Constitutional principles and federalism not to extend support to a State government that was not aligned with the ruling BJP. “If the Prime Minister says ‘vote for us in Puducherry, then we will cooperate,’ it is wrong. It is unconstitutional to say that ‘we will punish if you don’t vote for us’,” he said. 

‘Alliance decision soon’

When asked whether the Congress will lead the alliance in Puducherry, Mr. Khera said: “Puducherry is going to win and will have a good government. We don’t have a ‘gun point’ culture, like the BJP, in dealing with our alliance partners. A committee has been formed to hold discussions with the alliance partners, and soon, you will know about it,” he said. 

Earlier in the day, Mr. Khera joined the Congress padayatra in Puducherry, along with former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and PCC chief and MP V. Vaithilingam.