As the drug crisis intensifies in Punjab, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh accuses CM Bhagwant Mann of negligence and blames AAP governance for enabling mafias to thrive.
New Delhi [India], June 29 — The issue of the drug menace in Punjab has triggered a fierce political clash, with BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh launching a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Chugh alleged that drug mafias are operating unchecked in the state while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is more focused on hosting party convenor Arvind Kejriwal than on addressing the crisis.
“AAP’s governance is primarily for headlines, not for public interest. Drug mafias are roaming freely, and the CM, Bhagwant Mann, is only engaged in the hospitality of Arvind Kejriwal,” Chugh told the media on Saturday.
He went on to allege that the failure of governance in Punjab over the past 8.5 years, under both Congress and AAP, has plunged the state into a dangerous cycle of crime, drugs, and lawlessness.
“AAP and Congress have been in power in Punjab for the last 8.5 years… The state has been thrown into the fire of crime and anarchy,” he added.
Reiterating the BJP’s firm stance on the issue, Chugh declared:
“BJP stands strong against drug dealers. No dealer should be spared.”
Chugh’s remarks come in the backdrop of the recent arrest of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who has been remanded to seven days of police custody by a Mohali court in connection with a money laundering case linked to drug trafficking. He is expected to appear in court again on July 2.
Meanwhile, AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, have defended their efforts, marking International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with statements affirming their commitment to eradicating drugs in Punjab.
In a post on X, Arvind Kejriwal stated:
“Today is the International Day Against Drug Abuse. In Punjab, the AAP government is not just talking – we are taking strong action to make the state drug-free. We’re fighting the problem at its root to protect our youth and their future. Let’s salute every honest officer, volunteer, and citizen who stands with us in this real battle.”
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also reaffirmed the government’s stance, calling their initiative a “mass movement”.
“The campaign we launched from Punjab to eradicate drugs, ‘War Against Drugs,’ has now transformed into a mass movement. Those who ruin families and use the ill-got gains of this sin to build palaces and host lavish parties will not be spared,” Mann said.
“We have improved law and order in Punjab and provided people with a safe environment. By taking the strictest action against drug traffickers, we have forced them to flee Punjab,” he asserted.
As both BJP and AAP dig in their heels, the drug menace in Punjab remains a high-stakes political and social issue, with the battle over narratives unfolding alongside ground-level enforcement.