CHANDIGARH — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann mounted a sharp political counter-offensive against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, asserting that the Central government must answer for major narcotic shipments entering through ports in Gujarat rather than defaming Punjab.
The Chief Minister’s statements followed public criticism from the Union Home Minister regarding law enforcement and drug control efforts in Punjab.
“Amit Shah ji, you should have consulted your advisers before speaking about me,” Chief Minister Mann stated, addressing reporters during a press conference in Chandigarh. “The BSF has a 50-kilometre jurisdiction, yet 3,000 kg of heroin is being seized at Gujarat’s Kandla Port. Before blaming CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, take responsibility for your own duties. Stop copy-pasting scripted tweets written by your ‘chamchas’.”
Chief Minister Mann emphasized that border management falls directly under the Union Home Ministry and noted that drug transit routes traverse multiple states governed by the ruling party at the Center. Senior AAP leaders, including Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia and Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, supported the Chief Minister’s stance, citing jail security concerns in Sabarmati Jail and historical drug trade trends in the region.
