Congress holds candlelight march for slain anti-drug activist in Mohali

Senior Congress leader and former health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu led a candlelight march from Gurdwara Amb Sahib to Phase 7 in Mohali on Sunday to pay tribute to slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota and others who fought against the drug menace in Punjab.

Punjab Congress leader Pargat Singh and former Faridkot MLA Kuldeep Singh Kiki Dhillon also participated in the march. Participants lit candles and paid tribute to the deceased activist, conveying a message of unity and collective determination to eradicate drugs from the state.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗔𝗣 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝘁

Pargat Singh criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, alleging that the drug menace continued to destroy families across Punjab despite repeated claims of action against narcotics trafficking.

He said the government's claims of eliminating drugs were proving "hollow" in the face of ground realities.

Singh said the Bhagwant Mann government, which came to power promising to eliminate drugs, must explain what concrete steps it had taken to stop the supply of narcotics and protect young people.

He further alleged that the people of Punjab, particularly parents and youngsters, should not have to bear the consequences of the government's "failures".

𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗵𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Addressing the gathering, Balbir Singh Sidhu said the fight against drugs was not the responsibility of any single individual, political party or organisation, but a collective battle involving the entire state.

He demanded strict action against drug traffickers and those involved in the illegal trade, while emphasising the need for sustained efforts to dismantle drug supply networks.

Sidhu also advocated proper treatment, counselling and rehabilitation facilities for youngsters struggling with addiction so that they could be reintegrated into mainstream society.

He said raising slogans or launching campaigns against drugs alone would not resolve the problem, stressing that continuous and effective action was necessary at the grassroots level.

The Congress leader further said parents across Punjab were deeply concerned about their children's future and that protecting young people from drugs was among the most pressing challenges facing the state.

𝗝𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗮'𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝘄

Parvinder Singh Jhota, known for raising his voice against the alleged illegal sale of addictive substances at chemist shops, was shot dead inside a medical store in a busy marketplace in Mansa on October 13.

The incident occurred while Jhota was conducting a Facebook Live session.

According to the allegations, medical store owner Ashwani Kumar opened fire on the activist after Jhota questioned him over the sale of drugs to an elderly man.

Kumar was subsequently taken into custody from Salasar in Rajasthan.

The killing triggered a political confrontation in Punjab, which is scheduled to go to the polls early next year.

Congress leaders have cited the incident while questioning the effectiveness of the state government's anti-drug measures and demanding stronger action against those involved in narcotics trafficking.