Mission Impossible? AAP MP Bhagwant Mann Vows To Quit Drinking, ‘Huge Commitment’ Says Arvind Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Punjab Bhagwant Mann has announced that he has quit drinking from 1 January, Press Trust of India has reported.

He is believed to have taken this step based on his mother’s advice. Often criticised for being a heavy drinker, this announcement by Mann earned him high praise from party supremo Arvind Kejriwal.

Some of the allegations against Mann include him staying intoxicated day and night. In 2016 AAP MP Harinder Singh Khalsa had requested that he be seated away from Mann as the latter was reeking of alcohol.

While addressing a rally in Punjab’s Barnala, Mann accused his political opponents of defaming him but admitted that he used to take liquor “occasionally”. He added that his mother had asked him to quit liquor following this “excessive defamation”.

He thus claimed that he has stopped drinking from 1 January and plans to follow this vow for the rest of his life.

This announcement was praised by Kejriwal who stated that Mann has won his heart.

“A leader should be like him who is ready to make any kind of sacrifice for the people. It is not a small thing to make such a big commitment. After 1 January, he says he will not touch liquor. It is a very big thing”, Kejriwal was quoted as saying.

Kejriwal also asked how many in the crowd are similarly willing to stop drinking for the people.