Chandigarh— Senior Congress leader and Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Gurinder Singh Dhillon has issued a strong warning against recent proposals advocating poppy cultivation in Punjab, calling them “dangerous, ill-informed, and geopolitically risky.”In a sharply worded statement shared on social media, Dhillon cautioned that poppy cultivation directly contributes to the production of opium and heroin substances that have already inflicted deep social and economic damage on Punjab. He criticized certain leaders backing the idea, stating they lack even basic understanding of the issue, remarking in Punjabi that “they don’t even know the basics of the matter.”
Drawing attention to international implications, Dhillon warned that such a move could indirectly benefit adversarial nations like Pakistan and China. He suggested that if Punjab were to legalize or promote poppy cultivation, it could reduce the need for cross-border smuggling, thereby unintentionally aligning with the interests of these countries. He further linked the timing of these proposals to recent developments in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has reportedly imposed strict controls to reduce poppy farming. Dhillon implied that such global shifts may be influencing narratives within Punjab, potentially driven by vested interests seeking financial gains, including election funding.
Speaking from his professional experience, Dhillon emphasized the heavy price Punjab has already paid due to drug trafficking and addiction. Having personally battled drug networks during his policing career, he urged citizens, especially voters and activists, to firmly oppose any attempt to turn the state into a hub for opium and heroin production.“Punjab must not be pushed into another cycle of addiction and instability,” he asserted, calling on the public to reject and politically isolate those supporting such measures. He concluded with a pledge to oppose the proposal “tooth and nail at any cost,” underscoring the seriousness of the issue.
The statement has sparked fresh debate across political and social circles in Punjab, with growing concerns over the long-term impact of any policy shift related to narcotic-linked crops.