Amritsar, September 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Tuesday raised concerns over drug trafficking, gangsterism and the alleged continued movement of drones and weapons across the Punjab border, targeting both the BJP-led Central Government and the Aam Aadmi Party government in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Amritsar, Randhawa said he had written another letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the issues of drugs and gangsterism in Punjab. He said this was among the 10-15 letters he had sent to Shah concerning the situation in the state.
Taking aim at the BJP’s “Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra” launched from Pathankot, Randhawa accused the party of defaming Punjab through its campaign and questioned its approach to tackling the drug problem.
He said the focus should not be limited to heroin, or “chitta”, and claimed that synthetic drugs account for more than 40 per cent of the country’s drug problem. Addressing BJP MP Tarun Chugh, Randhawa urged him to convey what he described as the ground reality in Punjab to the BJP leadership rather than misleading people in the name of the drug issue.
Randhawa also urged Amit Shah to take concrete measures during his proposed Punjab visit on September 30. He called for strict action against officials in the Narcotics Department whom he alleged were complicit in drug trafficking, besides a visit to the Pakistan border and stronger measures to prevent drones from carrying drugs into Punjab.
He described cross-border drug and arms trafficking as an issue of national security and questioned why drone activity at the border had not been brought under control.
On gangsterism, Randhawa cited the case of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, claiming that 128 cases were registered against him but that he continued to operate his network from inside prison.
Randhawa alleged that Bhagwanpuria’s network has more than 1,000 members in Punjab and abroad, including around 100 in the United States. He further alleged that the network was operating in collusion with elements within the Punjab Police.
The Congress leader also questioned an advisory issued by the Punjab Government asking police personnel to report to police stations in plain clothes.
Calling the situation “deeply shameful”, Randhawa questioned why police personnel should have to enter police stations without uniforms. He alleged that the law-and-order situation had deteriorated to the extent that police officers were afraid to move outside their homes during the day.
Randhawa further alleged that senior police officials were regularly communicating with gangsters through video calls. He said meaningful action against organised crime would require such interactions to stop and called for decisive measures against gangster networks.
He also criticised both the Centre and the Punjab Government over their handling of the drug and gangsterism issues, saying Punjab should be protected from the growing challenges rather than being subjected to political blame.
Majitha Halqa Incharge Bhagwant Pal Sachar, Joginder Pal Dhingra and other party leaders were present at the press conference.
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