Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Punjab Drug Crisis Fuels Three-Way Political Battle Ahead Of Polls
Punjab is facing a serious problem involving illegal drugs.
Political parties are blaming one another for not solving it.
The Aam Aadmi Party says the earlier Akali-BJP government should also be held responsible.
It also says Punjab should not be singled out because 73 districts across India were classified as ultra-sensitive.
The BJP says young people are still dying and asks what the current government has done.
The Congress says both the Punjab government and the Centre share responsibility.
It points to cross-border smuggling, drones, border security and drug networks.
The BJP will start a Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra on Friday.
This means the drug issue is likely to remain important before the Punjab Assembly elections.
The Aam Aadmi Party government blamed the previous Akali-BJP regime and questioned the Centre’s focus on Punjab.
The Centre classified six Punjab districts as ultra-sensitive amid a wider classification covering 73 districts nationwide.
The Bharatiya Janata Party highlighted drug deaths and questioned the Bhagwant Mann government’s War Against Drugs campaign.
The Congress accused both the Punjab government and the Centre of failing to address smuggling, trafficking and drug networks.
The BJP is set to begin its Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra on Friday, keeping drugs central to the political contest.
- Who
- The Aam Aadmi Party government, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress, and leaders including Baltej Pannu, Sunil Jakhar and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
- What
- A three-way political confrontation has emerged over Punjab’s drug crisis and responsibility for addressing it.
- When
- Ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls; the BJP’s Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra is scheduled to begin on Friday.
- Where
- Punjab, including six districts classified by the Centre as ultra-sensitive; allegations also involve cross-border activity.
- Why
- The Centre’s classification renewed debate over drug deaths, smuggling, police accountability, government action and alleged political patronage.
AAP Government’s Defense
BJP and Congress Criticism
Responsibility for the crisis
AAP Government’s Defense
The Aam Aadmi Party says the previous Akali-BJP government, which governed Punjab from 2007 to 2017, cannot distance itself from the drug crisis.
BJP and Congress Criticism
The BJP focuses on drug deaths under the current government, while Congress says both the Punjab government and the Centre are responsible.
Centre’s classification of Punjab
AAP Government’s Defense
The Aam Aadmi Party says Punjab should not be singled out because 73 districts nationwide were classified as ultra-sensitive.
BJP and Congress Criticism
Congress says the classification of six Punjab districts shows failures by both the Centre and the Punjab government.
Government action and accountability
AAP Government’s Defense
The Mann government points to its War Against Drugs campaign and challenges the BJP’s record on the issue.
BJP and Congress Criticism
The BJP questions whether police officers have been held accountable and cites alleged inaction on complaints about open drug sales; Congress demands action against drug networks, traffickers and alleged political patronage.
- Ultra-sensitive districts
- Six Punjab districts were classified as ultra-sensitive for drug-related concerns.
- Nationwide classification
- The Aam Aadmi Party said the classification covers 73 districts across the country.
- AAP criticism
- The party blamed the previous Akali-BJP regime and questioned the Centre’s focus on Punjab.
- BJP criticism
- The BJP questioned the Mann government’s claims of progress and asked whether police officers had been held accountable.
- Congress position
- Congress said both the Punjab government and the Centre had failed to curb the drug menace.
- Border concerns
- Congress cited cross-border smuggling, drones and border security as areas requiring Centre-level responsibility.
- Upcoming campaign
- The BJP is set to begin its Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra on Friday.