Chandigarh: Opposition parties on Sunday raised concerns over the worsening drug crisis in Punjab following the reported death of a youth in Bathinda, allegedly linked to substance abuse.Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia said the incident, flagged by an NGO, underscored the “rising fatalities due to drugs across Punjab”. Targeting chief minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, he alleged the govt was relying on “misleading figures” instead of placing actual data in the public domain.Referring to the Bathinda case, Majithia said a video showed the youth with alleged injection marks, adding that similar deaths were being reported from districts including Mansa, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Kapurthala. He also cited a case from Kapurthala where a woman reportedly lost all her five sons to drug addiction, calling it a reflection of the scale of devastation.Demanding accountability, he sought district-wise data on drug-related deaths, stricter action against traffickers and stronger rehabilitation measures.Congress MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal also termed the Bathinda incident a “painful reflection” of the ongoing crisis. He said despite repeated assurances, the drug menace continued to devastate families, and called for urgent, coordinated and transparent action.Highlighting socio-economic factors such as unemployment and lack of opportunities, Dhaliwal stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy combining prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation. He also urged civil society and community leaders to join efforts, saying the crisis was “not just a law-and-order issue, but a fight to save Punjab’s future”.
