Akali-BJP Government Planted the Roots of Drug Menace in Punjab: Neel Garg

Chandigarh, June 1, 2025: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) senior spokesperson Neel Garg strongly condemned the BJP for questioning the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign of the AAP government. Taking a jibe at the BJP, Garg said it has become a party of press conferences, completely detached from the ground realities.
Neel Garg asked the BJP whether they are unaware that in just 90 days, the AAP government has arrested over 14,000 drug smugglers and sent them to jail. Are they oblivious to the fact that 8,472 FIRs have been registered under the NDPS Act and that hundreds of encounters have taken place? Furthermore, hundreds of illegal structures built by drug smugglers have been demolished using bulldozers.
Garg highlighted that the BJP might not know how people across villages, towns, and cities—be it the elderly, women, or youth—are coming forward to pledge that they will neither consume drugs nor allow their sale.
He asserted that the BJP must acknowledge that the War Against Drugs has become a public awareness campaign. Through this campaign, the government is succeeding in keeping future generations away from drugs. Garg questioned the BJP, saying that from 2007 to 2017, Punjab was governed by the Akali-BJP alliance. Before 2007, no one had even heard of substances like “chitta.” The seeds of this menace were sown during their regime. Why did the BJP remain silent back then?
He added that the BJP currently governs nearly 20 states, including major ones like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, where large quantities of drugs have been seized. Garg asked the BJP to disclose who they have filed FIRs against and which major kingpins they have arrested. Is there less drug trafficking in Haryana compared to Punjab? What actions have they taken there?
Further, Garg questioned which BJP-ruled state has launched a campaign like Punjab’s “Yudh Nashian Virudh.” He reminded the BJP of allegations made by a minister during Captain Amarinder Singh’s tenure as Chief Minister, claiming that Captain never took action against drug smugglers. This implies that the BJP harbors leaders who protect drug smugglers, and they must answer for this.
Neel Garg emphasized that when Punjab’s youth were falling victim to drugs, the government led by Bhagwant Mann took a firm decision to eradicate drugs completely. Today, the entire state stands with the AAP government in its campaign against drugs. The campaign is yielding results and has already achieved significant success. However, the BJP is raising questions solely for political gain.
He accused the BJP of treating drugs as a political issue and demanded that they apologize to the people of Punjab. Garg concluded by stating that history will record how the seeds of drug menace sown during the Akali-BJP regime were eradicated by the Aam Aadmi Party government.