Punjab -ongoing anti-drug campaign has once again triggered political debate after a man was allegedly caught consuming drugs inside a cremation ground in Gurdaspur district.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that under the state government’s “War Against Drugs” campaign, a resident of Kalanaur in Gurdaspur, identified as Gurkeerat Singh, was apprehended while allegedly consuming narcotics at a cremation ground. The incident has intensified political reactions across the state.
Cheema claimed that the accused has links with the Indian National Congress and that photographs of him with several senior Congress leaders have surfaced. He suggested that the arrest not only reflects ongoing enforcement action but also exposes political dimensions linked to the drug problem during previous regimes.
The Finance Minister alleged that Punjab witnessed a severe drug crisis during the tenures of the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance as well as Congress rule. According to him, current operations are consistently identifying individuals who allegedly maintained direct or indirect links with these parties.
Praising Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for leading the anti-drug drive, Cheema said that strict action has forced drug traffickers either to flee the state or land behind bars. He added that individuals caught consuming drugs are being provided medical treatment and rehabilitation support to help them reintegrate into society.
Cheema emphasized that the government’s mission is clear — to make Punjab drug-free. He described the campaign not merely as a law enforcement initiative but as a broader social reform movement gaining strong public support. According to him, lakhs of people are backing the government’s firm stance against narcotics.
The development has once again heated up Punjab’s political landscape. While the government is presenting the action as a major success in its anti-drug campaign, reactions from the opposition are awaited. The issue of drugs has long remained central to Punjab’s politics and is expected to remain a key topic of debate in the coming days.
