Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday hit back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the drug issue, questioning the Centre’s handling of narcotics and asking Shah to take responsibility before blaming Punjab. Mann made the remarks while addressing the media after a review meeting on the state government’s ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign at the Punjab Police Academy in Phillaur.
“Amit Shah ji, you should have consulted your advisers before speaking about me,” Mann said, adding that the Centre should focus on its own responsibilities instead of blaming him.
He also criticised Shah for allegedly repeating statements prepared by others, saying that the Union Home Minister should take responsibility for his own duties.
The chief minister chaired a review meeting attended by senior police officers and district officials, including SSPs, DSPs, DIGs, IGs and deputy commissioners. The meeting focused on the ongoing campaign against drug trafficking and the steps needed to strengthen enforcement.
Mann said the government had also held a meeting with station house officers (SHOs) around 10 days earlier to gather suggestions from officers working at the ground level.
He said the police had submitted several suggestions to improve the campaign and assured the force that the government would provide new vehicles, equipment and technology required for effective policing.
Mann said the government would continue taking strict action against drug smugglers. He reiterated that properties allegedly built using money earned through the drug trade would also face action.
The chief minister said the government did not support drug smugglers and maintained that the Punjab Police had an important role to play in making the state drug-free.
He also said people addicted to drugs should be treated as patients, while the police must focus on breaking the supply chain responsible for bringing narcotics into Punjab.
Speaking about the recent killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, Mann described the incident as unfortunate and said those responsible would face strict punishment under the law.
He added that if an underlying conspiracy was found, everyone involved would be brought to justice.
Jhota’s killing has brought renewed attention to the drug problem in Punjab, with demands for stronger action against alleged drug suppliers and those accused of protecting the trade.
Mann’s remarks came amid a political dispute over responsibility for the drug problem in Punjab. Referring to the reported seizure of approximately 3,000 kg of narcotics at Kandla port, Gujarat, he questioned why the state government was being singled out over the issue.
The chief minister also referred to the BJP’s long tenure in Gujarat and its governments in other states, including Haryana and Rajasthan, while challenging the party’s criticism of Punjab.
The Mann government has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking in Punjab, registering 65,146 cases under the NDPS Act and arresting 85,765 alleged drug smugglers. The campaign has also led to the seizure of 4,299 kg of heroin and the arrest of 783 major drug traffickers, according to figures shared by the government.
He also raised questions about the previous Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab, which was in power from 2007 to 2017, and referred to Bikram Singh Majithia while questioning the action taken against alleged drug networks during that period.
Mann’s comments were a response to the BJP’s continued criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party government over drug trafficking and addiction in Punjab.
The exchange comes as the BJP has stepped up its campaign against drugs in Punjab. The party launched its ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab’ campaign in September, travelling across all 117 Assembly constituencies and meeting families affected by drug abuse.
On September 30, Amit Shah concluded the campaign in Jalandhar and pledged to work towards making Punjab drug-free by December 31, 2029.
The drug issue has also been raised repeatedly by the Congress in Punjab, with opposition leaders questioning the state government’s handling of trafficking and addiction.
During the media interaction, Mann also spoke about permission to travel abroad for official and investment-related engagements.
He questioned why permission had not been granted earlier and contrasted the restrictions he said he faced with the Prime Minister’s foreign visits. Mann also referred to a court order permitting his travel and thanked the court.
The chief minister said he was not planning to travel abroad for a political rally but for work related to Punjab.
The review meeting in Phillaur focused on strengthening the state’s anti-drug drive, while Mann’s remarks highlighted the growing political confrontation between the AAP government and the BJP over who should be held accountable for Punjab’s drug problem.