New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has demanded a comprehensive report from the Punjab government following a series of violent incidents linked to the state’s persistent drug crisis. The central intervention comes in the wake of targeted killings and a suicide involving anti-drug activists, sparking a fierce political controversy over the law and order situation in the border state.
The Home Ministry’s directive specifically seeks detailed answers regarding recent fatal attacks reported in Mansa and Gurdaspur districts. A central focus of the inquiry is the murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota, a prominent activist who actively campaigned against local narcotics syndicates. The MHA has asked the Bhagwant Mann-led administration to outline its broader actions against drug trafficking and explain the specific measures being implemented to protect whistleblowers and social workers.
These tragic events have ignited a massive political storm. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, alleging that raising a voice against drug abuse in Punjab has effectively become a “death sentence” under the current administration. Adding to the pressure, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also criticized the state leadership, publicly questioning who bears the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding the lives of Punjab’s citizens.
In response to the mounting criticism, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured the public that the perpetrators and conspirators behind the violence would face the strictest legal consequences. However, the Chief Minister strongly condemned the opposition, accusing rival political parties of callously politicizing the anti-drug activist’s murder for their own electoral gains.
Hitting back at the Congress, the ruling AAP advised the opposition to introspect before delivering lectures on the state’s narcotics issue. Party representatives challenged the Congress to clarify its own internal stance on drug traffickers, reiterating the state government’s commitment to completely dismantling the organized drug networks operating within Punjab.