The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for their participation in a drug awareness campaign in Punjab. AAP leaders accused these political parties of being responsible for the current narcotics crisis in the state, highlighting a stark disconnect between their past governance and present initiatives. AAP Punjab Chief Spokesperson and MLA expressed skepticism regarding the integrity of the campaign, questioning how the Akali Dal and BJP can champion an anti-drug initiative when their earlier administration is linked to the proliferation of drugs in the region.
Concerns Over Political Motives
During the criticism, AAP representatives claimed that the anti-drug campaign appeared politically motivated, urging caution against enabling those who contributed to Punjab’s drug issues. The spokesperson insisted that while AAP does not oppose the campaign initiated by the Governor of Punjab, it is disturbing to see it led by those who are partially responsible for the troubles the youth of Punjab face today. The spokesperson reiterated that the Akali-BJP governance era saw what they termed a “sixth river of drugs” inundate Punjab, resulting in significant harm to its younger population.
Implementation of the ‘Yudh Nashe Virudh 2.0’ Campaign
The AAP government has launched the ‘Yudh Nashe Virudh 2.0’ campaign, aimed at tackling drug abuse throughout Punjab. Spearheaded by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, this initiative emphasizes collaboration between government officials and local communities to eradicate drug misuse. The campaign features the establishment of ten-member ‘Pind De Pehredar’ (Village Guards) committees in each village, akin to defense committees situated in border regions. These committees are tasked with prevention, monitoring, and reporting drug-related activities at the grassroots level to enhance community involvement in combating this pressing issue.
Recent Successes in Drug Seizures
In a significant development, the Punjab Police recently dismantled a cross-border drug trafficking network in Amritsar, successfully seizing 51.5 kilograms of heroin. During the operation, law enforcement detained two individuals linked to the smuggling activities and confiscated 103 packets of heroin. Preliminary investigations indicated that the accused had connections with a handler based in Pakistan, revealing the network’s international dimensions and underscoring the challenges faced in addressing drug smuggling in the region.
