Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Congress MLA from Bholath, today issued a strong condemnation of the misleading and fictitious claims made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regarding the eradication of drugs in Punjab through their so-called “War Against Drugs” campaign. While AAP leaders continue to propagate a false narrative of a drug-free Punjab, the grim reality is that young lives are being lost to drug overdoses across the state, with recent tragedies reported in Barnala and Tarn Taran districts.
Khaira highlighted the stark contrast between AAP’s lofty promises and the ground reality, stating, “Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann are misleading the people of Punjab with their baseless claims of eradicating the drug menace. Their much-touted ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ campaign is nothing but a publicity stunt. While they address rallies and make hollow promises, our youth are dying every day due to drug overdoses. Just in the past few days, two young boys in Barnala and several others in Tarn Taran have lost their lives to this scourge. This is the real face of AAP’s governance.”
The MLA pointed to recent incidents, including the deaths of two youths in Barnala due to drug overdoses and similar tragedies in Tarn Taran, as evidence of the state government’s failure to address the drug crisis effectively. He also criticized the acute shortage of resources in Punjab’s de-addiction centers, noting, “In Patiala district alone, there is only one psychiatrist for 32 de-addiction centers. This is the reality of AAP’s so-called war against drugs a complete lack of infrastructure and commitment to rehabilitate our youth.”
Khaira further condemned the AAP government for its irresponsible publicity campaigns, accusing them of wasting public funds on advertisements that spread lies. “The recent advertisement by the Mann government, claiming that previous governments worked hand-in-glove with drug traffickers, is not only baseless but also a shameful attempt to deflect from their own failures. The people of Punjab deserve accountability, not propaganda,” he said.
The Congress MLA also referenced the recent hooch tragedies in Majitha and Sangrur, which claimed numerous lives due to spurious liquor, as further proof of AAP’s incompetence in curbing the drug and illicit liquor menace. “The loss of 24 lives in Majitha and 21 in Sangrur due to spurious liquor exposes the inefficiency and utter failure of Bhagwant Mann’s administration. The slogan of a drug-free Punjab is a cruel joke on the people of this state,” Khaira remarked.
Sukhpal Khaira called for immediate action to address the drug crisis, including strengthening de-addiction and rehabilitation infrastructure, ensuring accountability of law enforcement, and cracking down on the drug mafia without political interference. He urged the Punjab government to stop misleading the public and focus on saving the youth of Punjab from the clutches of addiction.
“I stand with the families who have lost their loved ones to drugs and spurious liquor. My heartfelt condolences go out to them. The AAP government must wake up to this crisis and take concrete steps to fulfill its promises, or the people of Punjab will hold them accountable for their failures,” Khaira concluded.