Chandigarh: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s July 17 visit to Punjab, the AAP govt on Tuesday stepped up its attack on the BJP-led Centre, accusing it of failing to curb cross-border drug smuggling and allowing gangsters lodged in prisons outside the state to operate drug networks targeting Punjab.Addressing a press conference to mark 500 days of Punjab govt’s anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, health minister Dr Balbir Singh alleged that the Centre had ignored Punjab’s concerns despite possessing the technology to intercept drones used to smuggle drugs and weapons across the international border. “I want to raise a few issues before the Prime Minister’s visit. Punjab and its youth are being deliberately targeted,” the minister said.Referring to India’s air defence capabilities demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, Dr Balbir questioned why drones carrying narcotics and weapons from across the border could not similarly be intercepted. “They have advanced surveillance systems capable of detecting even small movements. If military-grade drones can be detected and neutralised, why cannot drones carrying drugs and weapons be stopped? Border security is the Centre’s responsibility. If it can do this elsewhere in the country, it should do so in Punjab as well,” he said.The minister also referred to recent disclosures by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation on Punjab-linked gangsters and alleged international drug cartels. Without naming anyone, he claimed a gangster lodged in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat had been accused by the FBI of operating a global drug trafficking network. “If someone can run an international drug racket while lodged in jail, I have every reason to believe that the network is also operating in Punjab,” Dr Balbir alleged.He urged the Centre to strengthen surveillance along the Pakistan border and intensify action against international drug syndicates and organised criminal networks. “Punjab is fighting this battle on behalf of the entire nation and deserves the Centre’s full cooperation,” he said.Highlighting the campaign’s achievements, Dr Balbir said that since ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ was launched on March 1, 2025, Punjab had registered 52,432 FIRs under the NDPS Act and arrested over 73,300 alleged drug peddlers, including 621 “big fish” caught with more than 2kg of heroin.He said the Safe Punjab Helpline (97791-00200) had received 46,342 public tip-offs over the past 500 days, leading to the arrest of 22,960 alleged drug traffickers. Comparing AAP govt’s performance with its predecessors, the minister said the SAD-BJP govt had seized 2,817kg of heroin between 2007 and 2017, while the Congress seized 2,412kg heroin in five years. “Together, they seized 5,229kg in 15 years. In comparison, the Bhagwant Mann govt has seized 6,608kg heroin in just four years,” he claimed.
