Amit Shah blames Punjab drug crisis on AAP government’s governance

India’s Union Home Minister Amit Shah has blamed Punjab’s drug problem on what he described as poor governance by the state’s Aam Aadmi Party government, The Hindu reported. Mr. Shah made the accusation in a post on X in Punjabi before addressing a public meeting in Paragpur village, Jalandhar.

He referred to the Bhagwant Mann administration as the “Aapda”, or disaster, government. The address marked the conclusion of the BJP’s Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, launched on September 18. Mr.

Shah said the campaign was intended to unite the state in efforts to eradicate drugs and that residents were waging a decisive battle against the problem. The BJP said the yatra had travelled through all 117 assembly constituencies and covered 4,000 kilometres. It raised awareness about drugs and encouraged young people to join the campaign, according to Mr.

Shah. He said that at the conclusion of the yatra in Jalandhar he would meet residents and families affected by drugs. The source material does not provide figures on drug use, arrests, treatment or seizures in Punjab.

The campaign was launched under the slogan “BJP da Naara, Nasha Mukauna Saara”. BJP president Nitin Nabin flagged off the first of four statewide anti-drug yatras at Ekta Sthal in Pathankot on September 18. Union ministers, chief ministers of some BJP-ruled states and other senior party leaders participated in the events during the campaign.

Mr. Shah’s remarks represent the BJP’s criticism of the state government; the material does not include a response from the AAP administration.