Chandigarh, Oct 29 Punjab Finance Minister and senior AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema slammed the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance and the Congress on Thursday, alleging that drugs and gangsterism flourished during their respective tenures in the state.
He asserted that while the Bhagwant Mann government is waging a decisive battle against drugs and organised crime, the BJP is indulging in politics over drug-related deaths instead of addressing the problem in the states it rules.
Speaking to reporters, Cheema alleged, “Between 2007 and 2017, the Akali Dal-BJP government brought a flood of ‘chitta’, other drugs and gangsterism to Punjab. These two parties, along with the Congress, left no stone unturned in damaging the state.”
The Congress came to power in 2017 promising to act against the drug menace, but he said it continued the same practices during its 5-year tenure from 2017 to 2022.
The AAP leader said since forming the government, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has consistently acted against drugs and gangsters. The finance minister said the Mann government constituted the Anti-Gangster Task Force soon after taking office, conducted extensive raids, arrested criminals involved in multiple offences and recovered illegal weapons.
He said the force has also worked to bring back criminals who fled abroad.
According to the figures, the force has apprehended 2,105 proclaimed offenders (POs) and arrested 81,499 individuals in action against gangsters and crime, he said.
The AAP leader said the Mann government launched an anti-drug drive, ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, and strengthened enforcement by installing anti-drone systems at the border. From March 31, 2025, onwards, the state has registered 68,545 drug-related cases and arrested nearly 90,000 accused, he said.
“Enforcement agencies seized approximately 450 kilograms of heroin, drug money worth more than Rs 23 crore, over 67 lakh intoxicant capsules, around 4,200 injections and 84 kilograms of intoxicating powder.
“These seizures reflect the scale of the government’s ongoing campaign to dismantle drug networks and prevent narcotics from reaching Punjab’s youth,” he said.
Cheema said Punjab is fighting a determined battle to stop drugs and protect its younger generation, taking strict action against drug traffickers, gangsters and those involved in organised crime.
(PTI News)
