‘We were a junior alliance partner’: Dhillon rejects AAP’s charge on drug menace during 2007-2017

Rejecting the AAP's allegations of a drug menace during Punjab's 2007-2017 period, BJP President Kewal Dhillon clarified on Friday that the BJP was merely an auxiliary partner to the SAD during that time. He explained that the BJP lacked the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister positions and only had a limited presence with 19 MLAs in 2007 and 12 MLAs in 2012. Consequently, the BJP could not make significant decisions, according to Dhillon.

During the BJP's Nasha Mukt Yatra, which commenced from Punjab's four corners and is set to conclude in Jalandhar on September 30 with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit, Dhillon emphasized that the current scenario has witnessed an alarming surge in drug abuse in Punjab. He pointed out that drugs are now being delivered directly to homes, a situation that previously required a wait for pizza deliveries.

Dhillon posed a critical question: should the focus be on addressing the drug menace and enhancing people's welfare, or should there be a continued blame game among political parties? He stressed that drug abuse is a challenge that should unite all political parties, transcending partisan differences, if genuine concern for voters' well-being is the objective.

Regarding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's claim of drugs arriving through Mundra port in Gujarat, Dhillon refuted the allegation. He stated that seized drug consignments are handled by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and highlighted that Punjab's drug problem is unique, predominantly involving synthetic drugs manufactured locally or in neighboring states. Dhillon asserted that Punjab must prioritize and rectify its internal situation before attempting to tackle the drug menace.