Chandigarh, October 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday challenged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP to explain their record on drug trafficking, farmers’ issues and gangster-related crime, accusing the party of exploiting Punjab’s drug problem and recent incidents for political gains ahead of elections.
Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Mann said the BJP must account for its failure to curb the drug trade during its years in power and demonstrate concrete action against trafficking networks instead of making political statements about making Punjab drug-free.
The Chief Minister questioned why effective action was not taken against drug traffickers when the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance governed Punjab from 2007 to 2017. He also raised the issue of demands for a CBI investigation into former minister Bikram Singh Majithia, alleging that political considerations had prevented action at the time.
Mann further asked why the Centre had not acted when major drug traffickers allegedly named influential ministers and political figures. He pointed to large drug seizures at Gujarat’s Kandla Port and questioned the Centre’s failure to prevent narcotics from entering India at their source.
Referring to reports concerning 2,200 kg of heroin in Gujarat, the Chief Minister demanded an explanation for the reported claim that the narcotics had been eaten by rats. He said the Centre must clarify what happened to the seized drugs and ensure accountability.
Mann also urged Shah to explain the Centre’s response to the farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws, during which more than 700 farmers died. He said the Punjab Government had provided ₹5 lakh in compensation and government jobs to the families of the deceased farmers.
“The people of Punjab have not forgotten the injustices committed against them, particularly the treatment meted out to farmers,” Mann said, accusing the BJP of remembering the state primarily when elections approach.
Mann Questions BJP’s Record on Gangster-Related Crime
The Chief Minister questioned the BJP’s criticism of Punjab’s law and order situation, citing a recent firing incident involving a Bollywood actor in Mumbai and reported links of those arrested to Kota in Rajasthan and Kurukshetra in Haryana.
He asked the Union Home Minister to address gangster-related concerns in BJP-ruled states before questioning Punjab’s handling of crime. Mann also referred to gangsters lodged in Sabarmati and other Gujarat prisons, as well as Tihar Jail, and demanded accountability for their alleged involvement in major murders.
He said the Punjab Government had already recommended a CBI investigation into the relevant matter and maintained that his administration would not protect anyone.
Mann also accused the BJP of failing to defend Punjab’s interests on issues involving Chandigarh, the governance of the university in Chandigarh, the distribution of Punjab’s water to Rajasthan and Haryana, and the state’s representation on the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
Welcoming Shah’s proposed visit to Punjab, Mann urged him to meet families affected by recent incidents and offer genuine support rather than use their suffering for political purposes.
Punjab Government Stands With Parvinder Singh Jhota’s Family
Reaffirming his government’s support for Parvinder Singh Jhota’s family, Mann said every necessary step would be taken to establish the facts and ensure justice.
“We stand with Parvinder Singh Jhota’s family, and we will continue to stand with them,” he said, adding that the government would work to separate truth from falsehood.
The Chief Minister cautioned against attempts to provoke people or exploit sensitive circumstances for political gain. He said Punjab had overcome difficult periods in its history through the resilience of its people and would continue to confront the challenges facing the state.
‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ Campaign to Be Intensified
Mann said the Punjab Government would intensify its anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, and would not retreat from its efforts to dismantle trafficking networks.
He said thousands of alleged drug traffickers had been arrested, properties seized and houses or other illegal properties demolished wherever warranted as part of the crackdown.
The Chief Minister also called on the Union Government to strengthen the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, arguing that weaknesses in the existing legal framework allowed alleged traffickers to secure bail quickly and return to their villages.
“Make the law stricter,” he urged, calling for stronger legal provisions to ensure that drug traffickers faced effective consequences.
Mann said the Centre must strengthen border security, install effective anti-drone systems along Punjab’s 532-kilometre international border with Pakistan, and take stronger action against trafficking networks and narcotics consignments entering the country through ports.
He said his government would continue taking action against those involved in the drug trade and called on the Centre to fulfil its responsibilities instead of politicising Punjab’s fight against narcotics.
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