Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Punjab, demanding accountability for the drug crisis that intensified during the 2007-2017 Akali-BJP government. He said politicising the tragic murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota was extremely unfortunate and asserted that CM Bhagwant Singh Mann had decided to hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the victim’s family’s demand. Baltej Pannu called upon the Centre to take concrete action against cross-border smuggling and the supply of pharmaceutical drugs instead of using the drug menace for political gains.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, “The fight against drugs is not the battle of any one political party; it is a battle involving the entire society. Under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has launched the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign systematically to eradicate the drug network from its roots. The police, civil administration, Village Defence Committees and Ward Defence Committees, comprising nearly one lakh members, are playing an important role in this campaign. We are not merely making statements against drugs; we are taking concrete action on the ground.”
The AAP Punjab Media In-charge said, “Blaming Punjab alone for the drug problem exposes the BJP’s political mindset. Several states across the country are facing this challenge, and Punjab’s international border makes the problem even more complex. We have installed anti-drone systems to tackle smuggling through drones, but the Centre must also fulfil its responsibility. The Punjab Government has repeatedly written to the Centre seeking to bring certain medicines under the National Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, but no action has been taken.”
Questioning the BJP’s record during the Akali-BJP government from 2007 to 2017, he said, “Where was the BJP when the chitta crisis intensified in Punjab? The Akali-BJP government remained in power for ten years, and the state witnessed a severe drug crisis during that period. The BJP must answer for its own record instead of targeting the present government to evade responsibility.”
He further asked, “What happened to the investigation into the ₹6,000-crore drug racket? Why was the investigating officer transferred, and what steps were taken to bring those linked to the case and living abroad back to India? The BJP must answer these questions instead of politicising the issue.”
Targeting the Congress and former Congress leaders who later joined the BJP, Baltej Pannu said, “Captain Amarinder Singh promised to eliminate drugs, but the people of Punjab waited five years during the Congress government from 2017 to 2022. Why was decisive action not taken? BJP leaders Sunil Jakhar and Manpreet Singh Badal, along with other leaders, must tell the people how strongly they raised their voices against drugs during that period. Leaders making tall claims today must also place their own records before the public.”
Questioning Congress leader Raja Warring’s remarks about opening licensed opium outlets, Baltej Pannu asserted, “Punjab needs to be freed from drugs, not pushed towards a mindset that normalises their use. An entire generation of Punjab has suffered because of this menace. Parties that governed the state for decades must accept their responsibility instead of exploiting this serious issue for political interests.”
Welcoming Amit Shah’s visit, Baltej Pannu said, “The Union Home Minister must provide clear answers on Punjab’s sensitive borders, cross-border smuggling and the supply of pharmaceutical drugs. Punjab feeds the nation and makes a significant contribution to national security. The Centre must extend full support to the state in its fight against drugs. This problem will not be solved merely by visiting Punjab and delivering speeches. We need concrete action and effective Centre-state cooperation.”
Baltej Pannu also questioned the BJP’s response to the families of Arshdeep Singh and Vinod Kali, office-bearers of the BJP Yuva Morcha who lost their lives in an accident during an earlier anti-drug march. He said, “Have senior BJP leaders met their families to offer condolences? Have any concrete steps been taken to ensure that the families receive the assistance they need? If the BJP is genuinely serious about fighting drugs, it must answer these questions too. Fulfilling its responsibility towards those who lost their lives and their families is just as important as delivering speeches from public platforms.”
Reiterating the Bhagwant Mann Government’s commitment to eliminating drugs, Baltej Pannu said, “CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s decision to hand over the Parvinder Singh Jhota case to the CBI on the family’s demand reflects the sensitivity of our government. Using someone’s death as a weapon for political gain is inappropriate. The fight against drugs must rise above party politics. Our government is committed to dismantling the entire drug network and securing the future of Punjab’s young generation.”
