Chandigarh, April 5, 2025 — The Punjab government’s ongoing anti-drug campaign, which has led to an unprecedented average of 64 arrests per day in 2025, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders who have dubbed it a “political gimmick” rather than a genuine effort to dismantle the state’s deeply entrenched drug networks.
While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hails the figures as proof of a successful crackdown, opposition voices from the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) accuse the ruling party of inflating numbers and shielding drug lords.
Congress Slams Campaign as “Blatant Fraud”
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa launched a scathing attack, calling the campaign a “blatant fraud” and accusing AAP of turning the Punjab Police into a “private militia”. He alleged that police officers — from constables to high-ranking officials — are involved in drug smuggling operations under the government’s nose.
“This is not a crackdown; it’s a cover-up,” Bajwa stated. “Civilians are being beaten, farmers’ vehicles stolen, while the real masterminds continue business as usual.”
Bajwa further warned of a nexus of corruption within the police force and said the campaign was targeting minor addicts and consumers, not the kingpins driving the trade.
AAP Hits Back, Blames Past Governments
AAP spokesperson and MP Malwinder Kang defended the campaign, accusing opposition parties of facilitating the drug epidemic during their time in power. He highlighted the government’s focus on accountability within the police force, contrasting it with previous regimes.
“The Opposition is panicking because their decades-old nexus is being torn apart,” Kang said. “We are not just arresting addicts, but also acting against complicit police officials. Unlike previous governments, we didn’t promote drug-tainted officers like Raj Jit Singh.”
Kang emphasized that arrests are part of a broader plan to disrupt drug supply chains and ensure long-term rehabilitation.
SAD Questions the Impact, Calls It Optics
SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema dismissed AAP’s figures as “inflated optics”, questioning the actual impact of the campaign. He claimed that genuine enforcement would result in withdrawal cases flooding hospitals, which, according to him, is not happening.
“The focus is clearly on small-time users, not big suppliers. This is more PR than real policing,” Cheema said.
Public Opinion Divided Amid Political Tug-of-War
The campaign has drawn mixed reactions from the public. While many laud the government’s aggressive stance, others echo opposition concerns that the campaign lacks depth and fails to address systemic issues like corruption within enforcement agencies and lack of rehabilitation facilities.
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