Mohali, October 18, 2026: Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu today led a massive bike rally against the drug menace in Mohali, joined by hundreds of Congress workers and supporters. Raising a strong voice for a drug-free Punjab, Sidhu expressed concern over the continuing drug crisis and the recent killing of social activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, who had been raising his voice against drugs in Punjab.
Addressing the gathering, Sidhu said that the killing of Jhota and other recent tragedies linked to the drug crisis had raised serious questions about the safety of those fighting against drugs and the state government’s response. He said that numerous families across Punjab were suffering because of addiction and drug-related deaths, yet the AAP government had failed to provide the decisive action people were promised. He demanded accountability and effective measures to protect Punjab’s youth.
Taking the AAP government to task, Sidhu termed its ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ campaign a complete failure in delivering the promised results. He said that publicity campaigns and political announcements meant little when concerns about drug availability continued to persist. He demanded a strict crackdown on drug suppliers, accountability for officials who ignore complaints, and better rehabilitation facilities for those battling addiction.
Criticising the BJP-led government at the Centre, Sidhu said that drug trafficking through cross-border routes and across different parts of India required stronger enforcement and accountability. Referring to major heroin seizures at Gujarat’s Mundra port, he questioned the effectiveness of the mechanisms meant to prevent drug trafficking through major ports and transport networks. He said the Centre must ensure transparent investigations, stronger intelligence-sharing and strict action against every trafficking network, irrespective of its location or connections.
Sidhu said that neither the AAP government in Punjab nor the BJP-led government at the Centre could escape scrutiny by shifting responsibility onto one another. He stressed that both governments must fulfil their respective responsibilities and work together to dismantle drug networks. He called for concrete action against traffickers, effective rehabilitation for victims of addiction and protection for social activists who raise their voices against the menace.
Reaffirming the Congress party’s commitment, Sidhu said that the fight for a drug-free Punjab would continue until meaningful action replaced political promises. He asserted that Punjab’s youth were the state’s greatest asset and that saving them from drugs required political accountability, effective enforcement and sustained efforts on the ground.