Amit Shah’s Claim of Eradicating Drugs from Punjab is Hollow : Balbir Sidhu

Amit Shah’s Claim of Eradicating Drugs from Punjab is Hollow : Balbir Sidhu

Says BJP-Badal alliance was responsible for spreading ‘Chitta’ among Punjab’s youth

S.A.S.Nagar 1 October ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu today termed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim during his Punjab visit that drugs would be eradicated from the state by December 31, 2029, as political hypocrisy, holding the BJP equally responsible for providing patronage to drug traffickers in the state. Sidhu said Amit Shah’s claim is completely hollow because it was the previous Badal government that brought the stigma of ‘Chitta’ to Punjab and allegedly provided protection to the drug mafia, with the BJP itself being a partner in the alliance. He said the BJP was equally responsible for the sin of pushing thousands of the state’s youth into the quagmire of drugs and towards death. He said the BJP’s present talk of creating a drug-free Punjab exposes its double standards.

Sidhu questioned Amit Shah as to why the Home Minister, while coming to Punjab and speaking about drugs, did not address inflation in the country and the growing economic pressure on ordinary families. India’s retail inflation stood at 4.82 percent in August 2026, while food inflation was recorded at 5.95 percent. He said household budgets are under increasing pressure. Why are such issues being ignored? He further said that the central government must also answer questions regarding the decline in the stock market and concerns among investors. In September 2026, the Nifty 50 recorded a monthly decline of 6.1 percent and the Sensex fell by 5.8 percent, while foreign investors withdrew approximately $2.7 billion from Indian equities. Sidhu questioned why these economic concerns were not discussed on Punjab’s soil when they are affecting public confidence and concern.

On the farmers’ issue, Sidhu said the people of Punjab still remember the struggle against the three farm laws. The central government announced the withdrawal of the three farm laws in November 2021, and Parliament subsequently repealed them. He said Amit Shah should also have given clear answers in Punjab on the long-standing demands of farmers, including a legal guarantee for MSP and other issues concerning the farming community. Sidhu said Punjab’s farmers have made a major contribution to the country’s food security, and issues concerning Punjab’s youth, farming community and ordinary people cannot be reduced to election speeches alone. Sidhu said that central leaders visiting Punjab would have to answer the questions being raised by the people of the state—on drugs, inflation, farming, MSP, employment and Punjab’s economic interests. He said the people of Punjab expect not merely slogans, but concrete policy, accountability and action on the ground. Sidhu directly questioned the Home Minister, asking that if the BJP has a “magic formula” to eradicate drugs, why has it failed to curb the drug trade in states governed by the BJP, particularly Goa and Gujarat? He said Goa has become a centre of drug tourism and Gujarat’s seaports have emerged as major centres of drug trafficking.

Sidhu said the BJP-led central government has also failed to stop drugs coming across the border. Despite the presence of the BSF and central agencies, narcotics continue to enter the country through international borders. He said Gujarat’s seaports have now become a major route and primary source of drug smuggling into the country, with large consignments of narcotics allegedly entering through these ports. He further said the central government has remained unable to stop such trafficking taking place under its watch. The Congress leader said it was deeply unfortunate that Amit Shah, while visiting Punjab, did not say a word about the state’s pressing issues or the long-standing demands of the Sikh community, including the release of the Bandi Singhs. He said Amit Shah’s Punjab visit remained limited to political posturing. He added that the people of Punjab would no longer be misled by what he described as the BJP’s hollow promises and slogans, and would respond strongly to those responsible for destroying the future of the youth.