Milpitas( California) – In response to the Punjab Government’s recent launch of the “Nasha Mukti Yatra” (Drug-Free Campaign), Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director of the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), has expressed strong concern over the timing of the initiative and called on the state leadership to follow up slogans with sincere and systemic action.
“The drug crisis in Punjab has been a silent genocide for over a decade,” said Chahal. “Thousands of Punjabi youth have lost their lives, families have been destroyed, and an entire generation has been pushed toward hopelessness and despair. If this level of awareness existed in the government, why was action delayed until now?”
While acknowledging the symbolic value of the campaign, Chahal emphasised that awareness drives and hoardings are not substitutes for real, ground-level intervention. “It is not enough to put up posters or make political statements. The fight against drugs needs tough policy implementation, strict law enforcement, border surveillance, de-addiction infrastructure, and grassroots education,” he stated.
NAPA has long advocated for international attention to the growing drug problem in Punjab and has supported affected families in both Punjab and the diaspora. Chahal warned that unless strong measures are taken now, the campaign risks being seen as a political tool rather than a transformative initiative.
He further stated, “The government must answer one painful question: Why did it wait so long, after so many lives were lost, to declare a ‘yatra’ against drugs? We do not need slogans; we need systems. We need accountability. We need results.”
NAPA has urged the Punjab Government to establish:
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An independent commission to investigate political and police complicity in drug networks.
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Round-the-clock anti-narcotics task forces at vulnerable border points.
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Increased funding for rehabilitation centers and mental health programs.
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Support systems for families affected by drug-related deaths.
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Transparent reporting of monthly progress in the war against drugs.
In closing, Chahal said, “As members of the Punjabi diaspora, we are watching closely. We will support any sincere initiative to rebuild our homeland, but we will also continue to hold leadership accountable for delayed action and empty rhetoric.”