Mann Government Must Account for 56 Months on Drugs, Law and Order, Gangsters, Mining Mafia, Rising Debt and Pending DA; Issue a White Paper in the Assembly : Tarun Chugh

Mann Government Must Account for 56 Months on Drugs, Law and Order, Gangsters, Mining Mafia, Rising Debt and Pending DA; Issue a White Paper in the Assembly : Tarun Chugh

Chief Minister Mann Is Rubbing Salt into Punjab’s Wounds with Misleading Speeches in the Assembly : Tarun Chugh

Remembering to Empower Police Against Drugs After 56 Months Exposes the Mann Government’s Incompetence, Ineffectiveness and Inexperience : Tarun Chugh

Chandigarh 23 October ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : BJP National Office In-Charge and Member of Parliament Tarun Chugh questioned the timing of the Punjab government’s notification granting special powers to senior police officers to act against the drug menace. He said the people of Punjab had given the Aam Aadmi Party a mandate to govern for 60 months, yet the need to empower the police against drugs appears to have been recognised only after 56 months in office. He said the delay raises serious questions about the government’s priorities, preparedness and record of action, exposing what he described as its incompetence, ineffectiveness and inexperience. Chugh said Punjab continues to grapple with drug abuse, deteriorating law and order, gangster activity, the mining mafia, rising state debt and pending Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief (DA/DR) for employees and pensioners. Drug-related deaths and incidents involving people who have spoken out against drugs over the past month have added to public concern. He said the Chief Minister should be answering questions on these issues in the Assembly and presenting a clear account of his government’s performance. Instead, Chugh alleged, political speeches are being used to divert attention from pressing concerns, rubbing salt into the wounds of people already affected by these problems.

The Punjab government’s notification dated October 21, 2026, grants specified powers under the NDPS Act to Police Commissioners and certain senior officers, including officers of IG rank or above in charge of police ranges, for the purposes set out in the notification. Chugh asked why the government waited until the final months of its tenure to take this step if such powers were necessary for effective action against drugs. He demanded a detailed account of the measures taken over the past 56 months to dismantle drug trafficking networks, disrupt supply chains and secure justice for affected families. He said issuing a notification alone does not establish success; the government must demonstrate effective enforcement and tangible results on the ground. Chugh said the government must also explain its record on law and order and gangster-related crime. Protecting ordinary citizens is a fundamental responsibility of the state government. Mann must clarify what action has been taken against gangster networks, what strategy has been implemented to curb crime and what results have been achieved in action against the mining mafia. Chugh also called for a white paper on Punjab’s rising debt and financial management so that the public can understand how state resources have been used and how the government intends to address the state’s fiscal challenges.

Reacting to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s remarks on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the Assembly, Chugh said that Punjab is seeking answers on drugs, crime, gangster activity and pending DA/DR, and that political statements on SIR risk shifting attention away from these concerns. He said electoral processes can be questioned, but allegations should be supported by specific cases and verifiable evidence. If the Chief Minister has evidence of irregularities, he should make the relevant details public. Maintaining accurate electoral rolls and protecting every eligible citizen’s right to vote are both important, and any debate on the matter should be grounded in facts. Chugh called on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa to present a comprehensive white paper in the Assembly covering the government’s record over the past four years and nine months. It should set out the action taken against drugs, the state of law and order, measures against gangster networks and the mining mafia, the increase in state debt, and the status of pending DA/DR for employees and pensioners. The government should also publish a time-bound plan explaining what it intends to do on these issues during the remainder of its tenure.

Chugh said employees and pensioners are still waiting for their pending DA/DR. The government must disclose the outstanding amounts, the current status of payments and a clear timeline for disbursement. Paying employees and pensioners their legitimate dues is a government obligation, not a political favour. Chugh said Punjab needs accountability rather than announcements and speeches. The Mann government must present its record on tackling drugs, protecting citizens, curbing gangster activity, acting against the mining mafia, ensuring financial transparency and clearing outstanding employee and pensioner dues. The Chief Minister must explain what his government has achieved in 56 months and what it plans to deliver in the time remaining. Punjab’s people deserve clear answers and measurable results.