Chandigarh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing critique of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab during the first day of his two-day visit to the state. Shah accused the Bhagwant Mann-led administration of pushing Punjab into “darkness,” asserting that the illegal drug trade has become completely unmanageable under their watch.
The Home Minister’s visit carried a somber tone as he met with the grieving families of anti-drug activists who recently lost their lives. Shah named Vikramjit Singh of Gurdaspur, Gulzar Singh of Sangrur, and Parvinder Singh Jhota of Mansa, stating that these individuals were either murdered or driven to suicide for raising their voices against the drug menace.
“The ground reality in Punjab is far worse than the reports reaching Delhi, a truth that has shaken me to the core,” Shah remarked. He directly challenged the AAP government to justify these deaths to the families who lost their brothers and husbands, claiming the administration has offered nothing but excuses.
Shah reminded the AAP leadership of their pre-election promise to eradicate the drug trade within three months of assuming power. “Five years have passed, but the drug trade is still flourishing. Drugs are being sold in every village,” he asserted, adding that those who oppose the trade face deadly consequences.
The Union Minister also questioned the state’s law enforcement efforts, highlighting that zero arrests have been made under the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act in the most severely affected areas, despite 929 cases being registered overall. He criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for allegedly failing to hold high-level review meetings on major NDPS cases.
Addressing the recent decision by CM Mann to hand over a specific investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Shah assured that the central agency would relentlessly pursue the accused, regardless of their power or influence.
Concluding his address with a political pledge, Shah stated, “I reiterate my promise to the people of Punjab: as soon as the BJP forms the government in the state, the problem of ‘drugs’ will be completely eradicated from Punjab by December 31, 2029.”