In a fiery address at Moga’s Village Defense Committee oath-taking event, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched a scathing attack on the BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Congress on Monday. They accused these parties of plunging the state into a drug crisis during their rule.
Kejriwal highlighted the ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign as a historic first, where the government is cracking down on traffickers instead of shielding them. He pointed to remarkable achievements in the past year: over 2,000 kg of narcotic drugs seized, major kingpins arrested, and their lavish bungalows demolished. ‘This campaign is delivering real results on the ground,’ he asserted, warning Punjabis against returning power to the old guard, which could drag the state back into the drug abyss.
Chief Minister Mann echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the drive fulfills AAP’s promise to eradicate ‘chitta’—the deadly synthetic drug ravaging youth. The strategy combines stringent enforcement with long-term prevention, including building sports fields in every village and creating job opportunities to steer youngsters away from addiction.
Kejriwal recalled the campaign’s launch on March 1 last year under Mann’s leadership. Initial skepticism lingered due to unfulfilled promises by previous regimes. People feared reprisals from traffickers and hesitated to share information. However, relentless police action—arrests, seizures, demolitions, and incarcerations—has rebuilt public trust in the AAP government.
Mann alleged that anti-state forces introduced ‘chitta’ to ruin lives and dim Punjab’s vibrancy. Past governments allegedly patronized the trade, even using official vehicles for smuggling. The current administration’s multi-pronged approach severs supply lines, rehabilitates victims, razes criminal assets, and locks up perpetrators. As the campaign gains momentum, Punjab eyes a drug-free future.