Congress leader Sachin Pilot has criticised both the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government and the BJP-led Centre over the state’s continuing drug crisis and law-and-order concerns. His remarks come as the issue has become a major point of political debate in Punjab.
Pilot Questions Government Response
Pilot said the drug problem in Punjab remained a serious concern despite the AAP government’s earlier promise to tackle it within three months of coming to power. He questioned the effectiveness of measures taken to address drug trafficking and substance abuse.
He also pointed to six districts—Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Ludhiana—that have recently been classified as “ultra-sensitive” in connection with the drug problem. Pilot said the classification underlined the scale of the challenge.
BJP Also Faces Questions
Pilot directed criticism at the BJP-led Centre over the broader issue of drug trafficking into the country. He also referred to the seizure of a high-value drug consignment at Mundra Port while questioning the Centre’s response to the supply network.
The BJP has separately been conducting an anti-drug campaign in Punjab, with its “Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra” becoming part of the wider political discussion around the issue. Pilot characterised the campaign as political, a claim that should be understood as his assessment rather than an established fact.
Law and Order Adds to the Debate
Pilot also raised concerns about the safety of police personnel after two recent incidents involving Punjab Police officers. He referred to the killing of ASI Harjeet Singh in Amritsar and the shooting of ASI Jaswant Singh, saying such incidents raised questions about the state’s law-and-order situation.
The incidents have added another dimension to the political debate, with opposition parties questioning the Punjab government’s handling of public safety.
Drug Crisis Becomes a Major Political Issue
The drug problem has increasingly become a focus of political activity in Punjab, with AAP, Congress and BJP leaders making competing claims about responsibility and solutions. Recent protests and political campaigns have also kept the issue in the public spotlight.
For residents, the debate extends beyond party politics to concerns about drug availability, trafficking, policing and the impact of substance abuse on young people and families.
What Happens Next
Pilot has called for coordinated action against the drug supply network and those involved at different levels of trafficking. The continuing political debate is likely to keep drug policy and law and order among the prominent issues in Punjab’s public discourse.
As political parties put forward different accounts of the situation, further official data, investigations and government measures will be important in assessing the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of responses.
