States » NorthPosted at: Sep 16 2026 5:20PM


Haryana CM Saini targets Punjab govt over drugs, jobs; calls for transparent recruitment

Chandigarh, Sep 16 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday attacked Punjab's Aam Aadmi Party government over drug abuse and unemployment, saying promises made to tackle both problems had not translated into a change on the ground.
Saini, who was speaking during a religious gathering at Baba Ram Thamman Ashram at Bajeke village in Guruharsahai, Ferozepur, said tackling addiction could not be left to the government alone and required families, religious institutions and social organisations to work together.
The Haryana chief minister's remarks add to a growing political confrontation over drugs in Punjab, with the issue again becoming a major point of attack against the Bhagwant Mann government.
Saini said Punjab's young people needed both employment opportunities and greater access to sports and other constructive activities if the state was to effectively address addiction.
A drug-free society, he argued, required participation beyond law enforcement. Families and community institutions had an important role in preventing young people from falling into addiction and helping those already affected.
His remarks came days after he accused the Punjab government of failing to deliver on its 2022 promise to tackle the drug problem. The AAP government has maintained that it is acting against drug trafficking and has launched its own anti-drug campaign, while opposition parties have questioned its effectiveness.
Saini also questioned the recruitment system in Punjab, saying young people should have access to government jobs through a transparent and fair selection process.
Employment, he said, was an important part of keeping young people on the right path, alongside efforts to encourage participation in sports.
The Haryana chief minister referred to his own state's welfare and health programmes while making the case for a governance model focused on employment and public services. He has made similar comparisons between Haryana and Punjab during recent political appearances in the neighbouring state.
Saini also took a swipe at the Punjab government while referring to an incident in Kharar in which currency notes were seen falling from a residential tower.
He said he had been watching a screen at the secretariat when he saw what appeared to be a "rain of currency notes" from a flat tower in Kharar, using the episode to question the functioning and priorities of the Punjab administration.
The reference was part of Saini's broader criticism of the AAP government rather than an allegation against any individual named in the material.
His latest remarks follow a series of attacks on the Mann government over drugs, employment and governance. At a public meeting in Patiala on Sunday, Saini had said Punjab's people wanted development, jobs, security for industry and solutions to their problems rather than publicity and advertisements.
The Punjab government has disputed opposition criticism of its record, saying its anti-drug campaign has combined police action against traffickers with efforts to treat and rehabilitate people suffering from addiction.
At Wednesday's gathering, Saini placed particular stress on the role of society in dealing with the problem.
He argued that police action alone could not provide a lasting solution unless families, religious organisations and other social groups became part of the effort to steer young people away from drugs.
The remarks also carry a political context as the BJP seeks to expand its presence in Punjab and has increasingly put drugs, employment and law and order at the centre of its criticism of the AAP government.
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Tags: #Haryana CM Saini targets Punjab govt over drugs# jobs; calls for transparent recruitment
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