States » NorthPosted at: Oct 24 2026 10:43PM


BJP pressure forced Punjab's AAP government to invoke anti-drug detention law: Kewal Dhillon

Chandigarh, Oct 24 (UNI) Punjab BJP leader Kewal Singh Dhillon on Saturday accused the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to effectively use stringent anti-narcotics legislation, claiming that sustained pressure from the BJP and union Home Minister Amit Shah had forced the state to strengthen enforcement under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act.
Dhillon said the Punjab government's October 21 notification delegating preventive detention powers to senior police officers had come only after Shah publicly questioned the state's record in invoking the legislation against suspected drug traffickers.
The PIT-NDPS Act provides for preventive detention of persons allegedly involved in illicit drug trafficking, subject to statutory safeguards and review procedures. Detention can extend to one year in specified circumstances, without the ordinary bail process applicable to criminal prosecutions.
"The AAP government has spent nearly five years making tall promises about eradicating drugs from Punjab, but the ground reality tells a different story," Dhillon said in a statement.
"If the government was serious about dismantling drug trafficking networks, why did it fail to effectively invoke the PIT-NDPS Act? It took the intervention of union Home Minister Amit Shah to expose these shortcomings and push the state government towards action," he added.
Referring to Shah's visits to Punjab on September 30 and October 20, Dhillon said the union Home Minister had highlighted what he described as serious shortcomings in the state's anti-drug enforcement strategy.
According to Dhillon, Shah had stated that 929 cases had been registered under the PIT-NDPS Act across the country during the preceding year, while Punjab had not registered a single case under the legislation.
Dhillon also cited Shah's allegation that Punjab had failed to convene a meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) during the previous two years, despite more than 48 such meetings reportedly being held by other states.
The BJP leader said the October 21 notification demonstrated that the state government possessed legal mechanisms to take stronger action against suspected drug traffickers but had failed to use them effectively.
He argued that preventive detention powers could help authorities disrupt organised narcotics networks, particularly those allegedly involved in repeated trafficking activities.
However, the delegation of powers under the legislation does not itself establish that preventive detention orders have been issued or that suspected traffickers have been detained.
Dhillon accused the AAP government of relying on political announcements and publicity campaigns instead of taking sustained action against narcotics syndicates.
"Punjab needed a firm enforcement mechanism rather than political slogans and publicity campaigns from AAP," he said.
He maintained that the BJP had consistently raised concerns over drug trafficking in Punjab and demanded stronger enforcement against those involved in the illegal trade.
Dhillon also reiterated the party's commitment to making Punjab drug-free by December 31, 2029, if it forms the government following the next Assembly elections.
"BJP stands firm on making Punjab drug-free by December 31, 2029, if the BJP forms the government in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections," he said.
The allegations concerning Punjab's use of the PIT-NDPS Act and NCORD meetings were made by Dhillon while citing Shah's remarks. Independent official figures were not provided in the statement.
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Tags: #BJP pressure forced Punjab's AAP government to invoke anti-drug detention law: Kewal Dhillon
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