Drug crisis ‘threatening Punjab’s future’, AAP and BJP stand exposed: Sachin Pilot

Congress general secretary and Punjab in-charge Sachin Pilot Monday said the drug crisis was “threatening the future of Punjab” and accused both the AAP government in the state and the BJP-led Centre of failing to curb the problem.

His remarks came a day after a Sangrur resident allegedly attempted suicide by consuming a poisonous substance outside the district administrative complex, claiming he had been threatened after raising the issue of drug supply in his village. The allegations have been disputed by the village panchayat, while the ruling AAP has termed the controversy politically motivated.

‘Drug money fuelling crime’

Pilot said the drug problem could not be viewed in isolation from other crimes in Punjab. “Please understand that the extortion rackets, the illegal arms, the shootouts, the gun culture, the mob violence, the daily firing of rounds in open broad daylight, it’s all an effect of how the drug money has percolated down to all the anti-social elements,” he said.

He also alleged that the networks controlling the trade enjoyed political patronage.

Targeting the BJP, Pilot questioned how narcotics continued to enter Punjab from across the international border despite border security being under the Centre.

“For 12 years they were in government in New Delhi. The entire border is supposed to be secured by the Defence Ministry and the Home Ministry. What were they doing for 12 years when the entire drug was coming from Pakistan into India?” he said.

Pilot then turned to the AAP government, saying it had been in power in Punjab for over four years but drugs remained easily available across the state.

“From the borders to every nook and corner of every village, it is now abundantly available for supply,” he alleged.

He said both the BJP and AAP stood “fully exposed” on the issue, while arguing that the Congress had a record of delivering in areas ranging from agriculture to combating terrorism.

Sangrur case triggers row

The comments came amid a political row over the alleged suicide attempt by Jagga Singh, a resident of Namol village in Sangrur.

Singh allegedly consumed a poisonous substance on Sunday outside the district administrative complex. He had claimed that a local sarpanch threatened him after he shared a video purportedly showing drug supply in his village.

Singh also alleged that he had approached the police but no action was taken. He is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Patiala.

The Namol panchayat has rejected his allegations, claiming he was making the charges to “protect himself” in a case related to an argument with the panchayat.

Police, meanwhile, said nine FIRs were registered against Singh, including a drugs case, and that he had been convicted in four excise cases.

AAP rejects charge

Punjab AAP president and Cabinet minister Aman Arora also rejected Singh’s allegations and claimed they were politically motivated. He cited the cases registered against Singh, including those involving drugs and rape allegations.

The incident has nevertheless given the Opposition fresh ammunition to target the Bhagwant Mann government over the drug issue.

Pilot said tackling the problem required action against both cross-border trafficking and the networks distributing narcotics within Punjab.

“The Congress party’s governments have a proven track record of delivering, whether it’s agriculture, whether it’s green revolution, white revolution, fighting terrorism,” he said, adding that people in Punjab were looking towards the Congress “with hope” for an improvement in their lives.