Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Sond launched a sharp critique of past administrations during a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, accusing them of fostering the drug crisis and shielding drug traffickers across the state.
Joining the debate on the drug issue, Minister Tarunpreet Sond alleged that both the Akali-BJP coalition and Congress governments not only failed to curb drug trafficking but actively enabled it, resulting in widespread addiction among Punjab’s youth. Citing media reports, he referred to the exposure of an illegal liquor unit in Khanna and the arrest of well-known drug dealer Gurdeep Rano from Payal constituency, presenting these incidents as proof of previous governments’ complicity.
“Before 2007, synthetic drugs weren’t part of Punjab’s landscape. But then came ‘chitta’, which ruined an entire generation,” Sond said. He further criticized a former Chief Minister for taking a false oath to eradicate drugs but never acting on the promise.
Highlighting the AAP government’s response, Minister Tarunpreet Sond praised Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for launching the ‘Yudh Nashiyan Virudh’ (War Against Drugs), which he said is already showing impactful results. He stated that drug networks have been dismantled, forcing many traffickers to flee the state.
He shared that under this initiative, anti-drug camps have been held in nearly 7,000 villages, and thousands of residents have pledged to stay drug-free. Over 4,500 villages have already declared themselves drug-free zones, and the campaign is now expanding into urban areas through awareness camps to ensure statewide coverage.
To channel youth energy into positive pursuits, Minister Tarunpreet Sond announced that the government will make over 3,000 new sports grounds available to the public within six months. He added that each of Punjab’s 117 assembly constituencies will have a model sports complex, offering safe and accessible spaces for boys and girls, along with open access for morning and evening walks by the public.
In his concluding remarks, Minister Tarunpreet Sond reaffirmed the Mann government’s vision of a vibrant and drug-free ‘Rangla Punjab’, stressing that every MLA, minister, and AAP volunteer is fully committed to this mission. “The day is not far when Punjab will be completely free from drugs,” he declared.