After the resounding defeat of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, they have come to realize that if they want to maintain their influence in Punjab, they must win the trust of the people there at any cost. The biggest issue facing the people of Punjab right now is drug addiction, which has devastated the youth of the state. Young boys and girls, who were supposed to focus on their studies, jobs, and future, have unfortunately become addicted to various drugs. Today, it seems almost impossible for any family in Punjab to be untouched by this problem; one person from almost every household has fallen victim to it.
When the movie Udta Punjab was released, many people objected to it, but looking at the current situation, it feels like the film may have been closer to the truth than we expected. This issue is not new; it began during previous governments, and some even claim that it was during the government that called itself “Panthic” that the drug traffickers had the most influence.
The AAP government in Punjab has now started taking action against drug traffickers, with raids happening in many places, arrests being made, and there are even reports of bulldozers being used to demolish their hideouts. However, it seems that the government has yet to think about how drugs are entering Punjab in the first place. Punjab shares borders with several regions, and it can be assumed that drugs are entering India from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Therefore, if strict surveillance is maintained at all borders, drug traffickers will not be able to enter.
Some people believe that drug traffickers fund political parties, and that their continued operations are due to the political backing they receive. Consequently, it has been difficult for any government to impose a ban on this. So, now we will have to wait and see how effective the AAP’s crackdown turns out to be.
