Chandigarh, Feb 14: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday stated that the state’s ongoing campaign against narcotics has secured a significant breakthrough following the arrest of a man in Gurdaspur. The suspect, identified as Gurkirat Singh from Kalanaur, was allegedly apprehended while consuming drugs inside a crematorium, an incident the minister claimed highlights the deep-rooted connections between smugglers and traditional political parties.
Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Cheema mentioned that the arrested individual has direct ties to the Congress party. He noted that several photographs have surfaced showing the suspect in the company of high-ranking Congress leaders, which he suggested points toward a pattern of political patronage for those involved in the drug trade.
“Akali-BJP and Congress have unleashed a flood of drugs in the state, and now the smugglers being caught are directly linked to these parties,” Cheema directly said. He noted that the previous administrations are responsible for the current challenges facing the state, while the present government is working to reverse the damage.
The Finance Minister mentioned that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the ‘War on Drugs’ has gained massive public momentum. He noted that the state’s approach is twofold: while enforcement agencies are ensuring that smugglers are either fleeing Punjab or being sent to prison, the government is also focused on the rehabilitation of those struggling with addiction.
“Whoever is being caught doing drugs, the government is treating him and making him well,” Cheema mentioned. He added that the mission to clean the state has evolved into a public movement, with lakhs of citizens joining the caravan to support the administration’s commitment to a drug-free Punjab.
