Chandigarh [India], May 16: Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla has raised serious concerns about the worsening drug crisis in Punjab, especially in Amritsar, and held the state government accountable for the surge in deaths linked to substance abuse.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Aujla said:
“Children in Punjab are dying due to drugs. I became an MP in 2017, and by 2018, I had already raised my voice against the growing number of injection-related drug deaths.”
He claimed that he had sent multiple letters to the Punjab government and local administration in 2022 and 2023, warning them of the crisis. Highlighting recent suspected spurious liquor deaths in Amritsar, Aujla said many people have died and others remain hospitalized.
“This should not be a political issue. When the current Chief Minister was an MP, he was vocal against drug abuse. But in three years of holding office, he’s hardly spoken on the matter. These deaths are the state’s responsibility now,” Aujla said.
He emphasized that drug-related fatalities in Punjab have reached alarming levels, stating:
“Lakhs have already died due to this menace. The situation is critical.”
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal launched a ‘Nasha Mukti Yatra’ in response to the drug crisis. Accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal announced that the initiative would cover every village and ward across the state to fight drug addiction.
“From today, the Nasha Mukti Yatra is starting in Punjab. People will pledge not to consume drugs, prevent drug sales in their areas, and help addicts receive treatment,” Kejriwal posted on X.
He also asserted that over the last two and a half months, the Punjab Police and government had intensified the crackdown on drug traffickers as part of their “War Against Drugs.”
Key Highlights:
- Gurjeet Singh Aujla calls out Punjab government for inaction on drug crisis.
- Raises alarm over rising injection drug use and spurious liquor deaths.
- Kejriwal and Mann begin state-wide ‘Nasha Mukti Yatra’ to promote drug-free living.
- Initiative to involve door-to-door outreach, pledges, and rehab support.