LUDHIANA, Aug. 4 — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday said the drug menace in the state has been “significantly reduced” though not completely wiped out, attributing the progress to a joint effort by the government and the people.
Speaking at an anti-drug event in Ludhiana, Mann said, “The situation is far better than what it used to be. The previous governments allowed it to grow unchecked, but we’ve launched a full-fledged war.”
The event saw the CM honour zone coordinators of the Nasha Mukti Yatra and members of newly restructured Village Defence Committees (VDCs), which have been mobilised at the grassroots level to strengthen the state’s campaign.
Mann accused previous governments of allowing the drug crisis to worsen and took direct aim at opposition leaders who he claimed are siding with drug offenders. Referring to the recent arrest of SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, Mann said, “Three Congress leaders and two from BJP have openly spoken in Majithia’s favour. I want to ask them — are they with the drug smugglers or against them? Their silence is not an answer.”
Without taking names, Mann referred to leaders such as Charanjit Singh Channi, Partap Singh Bajwa, and Capt Amarinder Singh as having supported a “wadda taskar (big smuggler),” adding that a “basket full of evidence” is being submitted in court.
Calling the day “historic,” Mann praised the turnout and enthusiasm in Ludhiana. He also listed the Aam Aadmi Party government’s achievements, including simplification of property registration, the recruitment of youth into government jobs, and reforms to curb corruption in revenue offices.
“Corruption was rampant in tehsils. Earlier, patwaris would demand money for amending land records. Now, the process is digital and simple,” Mann said.
DGP Gaurav Yadav, also present at the event, said that since March 1, the anti-drug campaign has resulted in 4,116 FIRs and large recoveries of narcotics, illegal arms, and vehicles. “Most breakthroughs came from public tip-offs. This is a campaign by the people, for the people,” he noted.
He added that VDCs would be given ID cards to operate freely and would coordinate closely with local police to fight drugs. “They are our eyes and ears at the ground level,” Yadav said.
Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha explained that the VDCs would comprise village sarpanches, panchayat members, teachers, SHOs, and other prominent local residents. He added that villages or wards declared drug-free would be officially recognised.
“These VDCs will not only keep watch but also create awareness in schools and communities,” Sinha said. “If they flag any illegal activity, immediate action will follow.”
The government reiterated its commitment to making Punjab a “Rangla Punjab” once again — a vibrant, drug-free state — through sustained grassroots vigilance and public participation.
