Congress Leader of Opposition in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Monday, 14 September launched a sharp attack on both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government, accusing both of converting the state's drug crisis into a political blame game rather than dismantling the supply chain. His remarks came ahead of the BJP's plan to launch four state-wide 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras' beginning 18 September.

The Central Charge: Deflection Over Action

Reacting to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's recent statement on the drug menace, Bajwa accused both governments of evading accountability. 'Bhagwant Mann cannot wash his hands of responsibility by talking about cross-border, the BSF and Mundra Port. At the same time, the BJP cannot absolve itself by blaming Punjab while the international border, ports and the national drug-trafficking network fall within areas where the Union government has a critical responsibility. Punjab's youth need action, not a Mann-Modi blame-game,' Bajwa said in a statement.

Bajwa challenged the credibility of the state government's claimed successes, questioning whether Chief Minister Mann's figures on arrests and FIRs reflect ground reality. 'If the government has truly won its so-called war on drugs, why is 'Chitta' (synthetic drug) still so easily available? How many top-level kingpins have been convicted? How much drug money has been seized? How many political and financial networks supporting the mafia have been dismantled?' he asked.

The Gulzar Singh Case: Demands for an Impartial Probe

Bajwa specifically cited the case of Gulzar Singh of Sangrur, who had publicly raised the issue of easy drug availability and subsequently died after consuming poison. The Congress leader said the circumstances surrounding Singh's death and allegations of harassment demanded a thorough and impartial investigation.

'CM Mann should stop saving his blue-eyed Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who was named by Gulzar Singh in his statement before his tragic death,' Bajwa said. He called the incident a source of shame for both the AAP and the BJP.

Alleged Police Assault on Anti-Drug Activist

The Congress leader also condemned the alleged police assault on Mohanjit Singh, who had reportedly spoken out against the drug menace. 'If a citizen who speaks about drugs is allegedly beaten in police custody, what message is this government sending to Punjab's people? Citizens raising their voice against drugs should be protected, not intimidated,' Bajwa said.

Drawing a pattern across both cases, Bajwa argued that activists raising anti-drug voices were being silenced. 'Gulzar Singh raised his voice and died under tragic circumstances after harassment at the hands of AAP supporters. Mohanjit Singh raised his voice and allegedly suffered police brutality. Mann and the BJP are busy holding press conferences and pointing fingers at each other. This is not a war against drugs; it is a war of political narratives,' he added.

Political Context: BJP's Nasha Mukt Yatra

The BJP's planned four state-wide yatras starting 18 September are widely seen as a political mobilisation exercise ahead of state elections. Congress's broadside effectively targets both its rivals simultaneously, positioning the party as the critic of a joint failure. This is not the first time Punjab's drug crisis has been deployed as a political instrument — successive governments have faced the same accusation of prioritising optics over outcomes on the ground.

As pressure mounts from multiple political fronts, the question of accountability — both at the state and central level — is likely to define Punjab's political discourse in the weeks ahead.