Declaring an all-out war against the drug menace in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi’s former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced a statewide mass movement against drugs starting April 1.
Kejriwal, flanked by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann while addressing a massive gathering at the Indoor Stadium in Ludhiana, vowed to mobilize three crore Punjabis to eradicate drugs from the state. He announced a multi-pronged strategy that includes a drug census, anti-drone technology to curb smuggling from Pakistan, and a crackdown on influential politicians involved in the drug trade.
“This is Punjab’s Decisive War Against Drugs”
Kejriwal called upon every Punjabi to join the movement against drugs, stressing that drug smugglers had ruined generations in Punjab while past governments turned a blind eye or actively protected them.
He declared that from April 1, every village, every city, and every street of Punjab would rise against drugs. He termed it a war of Punjab’s people against those who had destroyed the youth for their own profits.
To facilitate public participation, an anti-drug helpline (9779100200) has been launched, urging citizens to report drug-related activities confidentially. Kejriwal assured that the identity of informants would be protected, while the government would ensure strict and exemplary action against drug traffickers.
Statewide Drug Census
For the first time, the Punjab Government will conduct a drug census to assess the actual extent of drug addiction across villages and cities. “Our teams will visit every household to gauge the scale of drug addiction. The identities of affected individuals will remain confidential, but we will take proactive steps to help them recover,” Kejriwal announced.
The government plans to establish rehabilitation centers and gyms in every village to channelize youth energy toward sports and health, reducing their vulnerability to drugs.
“No Mercy for Drug Lords; Their Homes Will be Bulldozed,” says CM Mann
Echoing Kejriwal’s resolve, Chief Minister Mann declared that strict action was already underway against drug kingpins. “We have identified the areas where drugs are sold, and we have already begun removing police officers who were stationed there for 20 years and had ties with drug smugglers,” he said.
In a major crackdown, the Government is seizing properties of major drug traffickers. Mann announced that bulldozers would soon demolish houses and businesses built from drug money. “Let this be clear — anyone involved in the drug trade, regardless of how powerful they are, will not be spared,” he warned.
Political Links to Drug Mafia to be Exposed
Kejriwal accused previous governments of shielding the drug mafia, alleging that influential politicians from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Congress were actively involved in drug trafficking. “These leaders patronized not just the drug mafia but also the sand, transport, and cable mafias. They have looted Punjab for decades,” Kejriwal asserted, vowing that such politicians would face jail time under the AAP Government.
Mann also took a dig at SAD’s former president Sukhbir Singh Badal, remarking that those who oppressed Punjab were now facing divine justice. “They thought they would rule for 25 years, but today, they don't even have 25 party members left to form a committee,” Mann quipped.
Anti-Drone Technology to Stop Smuggling from Pak
Punjab’s border districts will soon be equipped with advanced anti-drone technology to combat drug smuggling from across the border. “Seventy percent of drugs enter Punjab from Pakistan via drones. Our government will deploy cutting-edge technology to detect and stop these drones before they drop poison on our land,” Kejriwal announced.
Mann also highlighted that 5,000 new Home Guards are being recruited and will be stationed in border areas to intensify surveillance and crack down on smuggling networks.
Ludhiana’s Civil Hospital Revamped
Apart from the drug crackdown, Kejriwal and Mann inaugurated the newly-renovated Civil Hospital in Ludhiana, a project spearheaded by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora. The hospital, which was once plagued by poor infrastructure and unhygienic conditions, has undergone a complete transformation.
Mann recalled that the previous Congress and SAD-BJP governments had left behind a hospital filled with over 30,000 rodents. “It was easier to remove politicians than the rats in this hospital,” he joked, adding that Punjab’s healthcare system was now undergoing a revolution.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh praised Kejriwal and Mann for establishing 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics, which have already treated over three crore patients, saving Punjabis Rs 1,200 crore in medical expenses.
Talking about major healthcare investments ahead, Dr Balbir said that a total of Rs 11,000 crore has been allocated for healthcare infrastructure. He added that 12 new medical colleges will be set up — six each in the government and private sectors. “Free medicines is being provided in all government hospitals for the first time in Punjab’s history; more CSR-funded hospital revamps have been planned for Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda, and Barnala, with the foundation stone for a new medical college to be laid in Nawanshahr on March 23,” he said.
Bold Vision for Punjab’s Future
Concluding the event, Kejriwal emphasized that Punjab was on the path to unprecedented progress. “For the first time in decades, Punjab has a government that is truly committed to its people. Corruption is being crushed, healthcare is being reformed, and the drug menace will be wiped out forever,” he asserted.
Mann assured that corrupt officers and politicians would no longer be able to escape scrutiny, reiterating that land registry services would soon be made corruption-free, and all government services would be available at citizens’ doorsteps. “This is not the government of Congress, Akalis, or BJP. This is the government of the people of Punjab, and we will serve them with full honesty and dedication,” Kejriwal said, amid loud cheers from the crowd.
Day 18: 95 Drug Smugglers Arrested; 11kg Heroin Seized
Punjab Police’s anti-drug campaign “Yudh Nashian Virudh” entered its 18th day, resulting in the arrest of 95 drug smugglers and the recovery of 11 kg heroin, 7.5 kg opium, and Rs 31,000 drug money. So far, total of 2,231 smugglers have been arrested under the drive.
Over 250 police teams, led by 97 SP and DSP rank officers, conducted raids at 539 locations across Punjab, registering 61 FIRs and checking 599 suspicious individuals, said the Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla.
In Malerkotla, 40 panchayats passed a resolution to strengthen police-public cooperation in combating drugs. Punjab Police is implementing a three-pronged strategy — Enforcement, Deaddiction, and Prevention (EDP). As part of deaddiction efforts, six persons were sent for rehabilitation, while 137 awareness programs were held statewide.
The Punjab Government, under DGP Gaurav Yadav, remains committed to its decisive war on drugs.
In a major crackdown under the campaign, Sangrur District Administration and police demolished two illegal structures owned by drug traffickers in Ram Nagar Basti, Sangrur. The operation, led by SSP Sartaj Singh Chahal and SDM Charanjot Singh Walia, was backed by senior police and municipal officials.
SSP Chahal warned drug smugglers of severe consequences, emphasizing Punjab’s zero-tolerance policy. The first demolished house belonged to Rajpal Singh and Rajwinder Kaur, with seven and four NDPS cases against them, respectively. The second structure was owned by Lakho, facing four NDPS cases.
SDM Walia asserted that illegal occupants would not be spared, reinforcing the Punjab Government’s commitment to eradicating drug networks.
Anti-Drone Trials in Tarn Taran Today
Punjab will take a major step in its war against drugs as the State Government gears up to conduct trials of advanced anti-drone technology in Tarn Taran on Wednesday. AAP’s Punjab unit president and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Tuesday announced that the initiative aimed to neutralize drones smuggling drugs and weapons from Pakistan, making Punjab the first state in India to adopt such cutting-edge measures.
Arora revealed that over 90 percent of drugs enter Punjab via drones from Pakistan, and while border security is the Centre’s responsibility, its failure has forced Punjab to act. “This technology will detect, track, and neutralize drones within a 10-km range, ensuring an effective crackdown on cross-border smuggling,” he said.
Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Aman Arora, who are the members of state’s Anti-Drug Sub-Committee, will oversee the trials. Arora reaffirmed the Punjab Government’s zero-tolerance policy, vowing that no politician, officer, or smuggler involved in the drug trade will be spared.
