Punjabs Drug Crisis Exposed: BJP Calls Out AAP Governments Failures

Chandigarh, August 7: A report from the Punjab Assembly committee has highlighted the alarming drug situation in the state. Punjab BJP President, Kailash Singh Dhillon, labeled the report as a testament to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s greatest failure. He stated that over 65 percent of the youth are affected by drug addiction, which serves as a serious warning.

Dhillon emphasized that the committee’s findings have unveiled the truth behind the government’s claims of a ‘Drug-Free Punjab’ and their ‘War on Drugs’ campaign. According to the report, young individuals aged 18 to 35 are the most severely impacted by substance abuse.

He expressed concern over the 57 percent increase in the consumption of drugs like buprenorphine over the past four years, while there is a significant shortage of beds for treatment in government hospitals.

These statistics clearly indicate that the government has failed to curb drug addiction and has not established the necessary infrastructure for treating those affected.

Dhillon reminded that AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal had promised to eliminate drugs within three months of taking office in Punjab. However, after four and a half years, the situation has worsened significantly.

He pointed out that the government’s ‘War on Drugs’ campaign has been a complete failure on the ground, limited to advertisements, publicity, and hollow claims. If the government’s assertions were true, the consumption of anti-addiction pills would not have surged from nearly 700 million to approximately 1.1 billion.

He questioned why there has been such a record increase in the demand for anti-addiction medications if drug addiction was genuinely declining.

Instead of addressing the root causes of the drug problem, the government seems to be attempting to conceal its failures through statistics and publicity campaigns.

Dhillon stressed that the fight against drugs cannot be won through speeches and publicity alone. The government’s priorities should include dismantling the drug supply chain, taking strict action against major drug traffickers without political interference, and implementing a timely and effective policy for the treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation of affected youth.

He concluded that the future of Punjab can only be secured by saving its youth.