In a concerted outcry against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Government in Punjab, opposition leaders on Thursday lashed out at the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his administration for the state’s worsening drug crisis. Punjab Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and other political figures have united in their criticism, highlighting the alarming rise in drug-related deaths and questioning the government's commitment to addressing the issue.
Vocal in his condemnation of AAP's handling of the drug menace, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said: “Throughout AAP’s 28-month tenure, we've only heard promises and timelines about ending the drug crisis…Instead of improving, the situation has worsened, with drug-related problems increasing fourfold.”
Warring pointed out the broken promises made by AAP during the 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections, where they claimed to eradicate the drug problem within three months of their victory. “The drug problem has escalated, with June witnessing 14 deaths in 14 days due to overdoses. The youth of Punjab are being engulfed by this 'drug pandemic,' with at least 587 reported deaths under AAP's tenure, though the actual figures are likely much higher,” he emphasized.
Warring expressed his alarm over the state’s condition, urging for immediate action rather than mere rhetoric. “On August 15, 2023, CM Bhagwant Mann promised that heroin would be eradicated in Punjab by this time next year. With less than a month remaining, a new timeline will likely be provided, claiming groundwork has already started,” he predicted.
He questioned the CM's inaction, stating, “How many more false promises must we hear before real work begins? This is a serious issue, and the Punjab government needs to be held accountable.”
In a scathing attack, Warring highlighted the inadequacies in de-addiction efforts, pointing out that even patients in de-addiction centers are becoming addicted to the drugs meant to cure them. He noted that pharmaceutical drugs now account for 25 percent of NDPS FIRs in Punjab and referenced NCRB data showing Punjab had the highest number of drug overdose deaths in the nation in 2022. “Is this the change and eradication of drugs that the AAP government promised?” he asked, calling for urgent and effective measures to combat the crisis.
Echoing Warring’s sentiments, the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa described CM Mann as the “most inefficient leader Punjab has ever had”.
Bajwa, citing recent overdose deaths, criticized AAP’s anti-drug operation Nishchay for failing to gain momentum. “The graph of drug overdose deaths has been spiraling day by day. Punjab’s future generations are at stake, and as Home Minister, Bhagwant Mann must own the responsibility of these deaths,” Bajwa asserted.
Further criticizing the CM’s handling of prison-related drug issues, Bajwa pointed out that drug rackets continue to operate from jails. He questioned why all jails in Punjab couldn't be made as secure as Bathinda Central Jail, where 200 inmates were recently transferred to curb drug operations.
Adding to the chorus of criticism, Punjab BJP leader and state media head Vineet Joshi revealed that an extensive study found at least 587 youths have died due to drug abuse during AAP's tenure, with the actual number likely between 2,000 and 2,500. “Families often avoid reporting deaths due to social stigma and police reluctance to register FIRs,” Joshi explained. He accused CM Mann of inaction, stating, “No state-level anti-drug program was organized, nor any anti-drugs advertisement issued during Mann's tenure.”
Joshi painted a grim picture of the crisis, noting that not only young men but also children, elderly people, girls, and pregnant women are falling victim to drug addiction. “Videos of young people, especially girls, consuming drugs are frequently going viral on social media. Drug addicts are resorting to extreme violence, including killing family members for drugs. Entire families are being destroyed,” he lamented.
Joshi also highlighted the rampant availability of drugs in Punjab, likening the situation to ration stores with people lining up to purchase drugs. “Drug smugglers are courageous enough to attack, shoot, and kill those who oppose them, including police officers,” he added.
In conclusion, Joshi accused CM Mann and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal of giving patronage to drug smugglers, stating, “If we apply AAP's past accusations in today's context, it seems that the drug traffickers now have the patronage of CM Mann, AAP ministers, MLAs, and leaders.” The opposition’s united front underscores the urgent need for effective action to address the escalating drug crisis in Punjab.