Punjab’s drug problem has once again taken center stage in state politics. Amid mounting criticism from opposition parties, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Anurag Dhanda has hit back hard, placing the blame for the state’s long-standing drug crisis squarely on the earlier Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP alliance. He alleged that political patronage under the previous government allowed the drug trade to flourish, claiming that whenever a drug mafia’s name came up, the earlier government would simply “settle” with them.
‘No One Will Be Spared,’ Says Dhanda
Speaking about the current government’s approach, Dhanda made a clear distinction between the past and present administrations. He stated that political affiliation would not protect anyone involved in drug trafficking, adding that whether a trafficker is close to the Congress, BJP, or Akali Dal, the Bhagwant Mann government will not spare a single one under any circumstances. He further noted that thousands of drug traffickers have already been arrested and jailed, and they will serve out their sentences.
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Warning Against Future Offenders
Dhanda didn’t stop at defending the government’s past record; he also issued a warning for the future. He said that if anyone else is found involved in drug trafficking going forward, the government will not spare them, unlike previous administrations.
Political Slugfest Continues
This isn’t happening in isolation. The statement comes at a time when opposition parties, including SAD and Congress, have been demanding accountability from the state government following a tragic incident in Punjab’s Sangrur district, where a man died after allegedly facing pressure over raising concerns about drug availability. Dhanda and other AAP leaders have accused the opposition of playing “vulture politics” by trying to gain mileage from the tragedy, while insisting that police have already acted swiftly by arresting all those named by the victim’s family.
What This Means for Punjab
The drug issue remains one of the most emotionally charged topics in Punjab politics, with each party trading blame over who is truly responsible. For ordinary citizens, the real question isn’t about political point-scoring, it’s about whether the promised “zero leniency” translates into visible, lasting change on the ground.
