Bharatiya Janata Party Punjab State President Sardar Kewal Singh Dhillon addressed a Press Conference at the Party’s Central Office in New Delhi on Wednesday, holding the Aam Aadmi Party government responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation, drug abuse, gangsterism and economic distress in Punjab. The murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota, who had raised his voice against drug abuse, and the involvement of police personnel in drug trafficking reflected the grave situation in the state. The Punjab BJP President demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and said that the BJP was committed to eliminating drug abuse and crime from Punjab. BJP National Spokesperson Sardar RP Singh ji was also present on the stage.
Sardar Keval Singh Dhillon said that Punjab was known for its Gurus, Pirs, Prophets, brave warriors who fought for the country, sportspersons and the Green Revolution. However, it was deeply unfortunate that the same Punjab was now becoming known for Chitta and drug abuse. He stated that there was no law and order left in Punjab and that the state was witnessing jungle raj. There was hardly a day in Punjab when people did not wake up to reports of several people being shot dead. The law and order situation in the state is very poor. While Punjab faced several issues of misgovernance, the biggest issue is drug abuse. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had undertaken a major yatra against this menace, which was launched by BJP National President Shri Nitin Nabin Ji. Subsequently, several Union Ministers also joined the yatra. The party commenced the yatra from all four directions and concluded it in Jalandhar. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed a massive public rally, where he stated that only the Bharatiya Janata Party could eradicate drug abuse. Setting a target of 31 March 2029, Shri Amit Shah had affirmed that the BJP was committed to uprooting the drug menace from Punjab once the party formed the government in the state. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji had also stated in his Mann Ki Baat programme last month and this month that drug abuse would be completely eradicated from India.
The Punjab BJP State President stated that Punjab was grappling with several issues, including drug abuse, gangsterism, law and order, extortion, debt and economic distress, but the biggest issue among them was drug abuse. Just yesterday, Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead. He had been raising his voice against drug abuse. He was standing near a chemist’s shop from where drugs were reportedly being sold. He had caught an individual consuming drugs, but the drug traffickers had become so emboldened that they shot him dead in broad daylight. The Aam Aadmi Party government was responsible for this murder. Following the killing, Parvinder Singh Jhota’s father also said that these incidents were taking place with the backing of the local MLA. As there was no trust in the Punjab Government or the Punjab Police in this matter, the BJP had written to the Governor, demanding a CBI investigation into the case. Today, protests were being held at the district level across Punjab against this incident. The question was what had happened to Punjab that law and order had completely collapsed. Just this morning, BSF personnel apprehended a Punjab Police employee with 15 kilograms of heroin. The police employee was deployed on duty in a VIP convoy. When Punjab Police personnel themselves were being caught in drug trafficking, who was responsible for this? The Chief Minister of Punjab also holds the Home portfolio in the state. Drug-related deaths were occurring every day, law and order was deteriorating, and gangsterism is on the rise. In such circumstances, the Chief Minister had no moral right to continue in office. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should resign from his post immediately.
Sardar Kewal Singh Dhillon said that instead of curbing drug abuse, the voices of people in Punjab were being suppressed. Drug abuse was not being brought to an end; rather, those raising their voices against it were being silenced. Today, even people associated with the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab are not safe. Yesterday, a manager of Yes Bank was shot dead in Amritsar. This morning, gunshots were fired at a house in Mohali as well. Every morning, reports of shooting incidents emerge from Punjab. The law & order situation in the state has deteriorated to such an extent that it is difficult to describe in words. So far in 2026, six police personnel have been shot dead. When even the police personnel responsible for ensuring people’s safety are not safe, what can the general public expect in terms of their own security? This problem is not limited to September. Several high-profile murders have also taken place in October, with gangsters continuing to claim responsibility for them. On 18 September, police personnel ASI Harjit Singh was shot dead in Amritsar. On 26 September, Navdeep Singh, the husband of a sarpanch, was shot dead in Tarn Taran. On 3 October, social media influencer Mad Sandhu was shot dead in Amritsar. On 11 October, Intelligence Wing ASI Iqbal Singh was murdered in Tarn Taran. Subsequently, on 13 October, Parvinder Singh Jhota was murdered in Mansa. Those raising their voices against drug abuse are also silenced and targeted with bullets. The situation in Punjab has deteriorated to such an extent that there appears to be no law and order in the state. People are even afraid to step out of their homes.
The Punjab BJP President asserted that under the Aam Aadmi Party’s rule, people from various walks of life, including artists, sportspersons, police personnel, social media influencers and social activists, have been murdered. These include renowned singer Sidhu Moosewala, famous kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambia and kabaddi player Gurwinder Singh. Rana Balachauria, who promoted sports, was also murdered. Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked, and a grenade was thrown at the residence of senior BJP leader Shri Manoranjan Kalia. Even police stations in Punjab are not safe. Bombs are being hurled at police stations in Mohali. RPG attacks took place in Mohali and Tarn Taran, while the Ajnala police station was also attacked. Grenades are being hurled at police stations and police posts. These incidents make it clear that the law & order situation in the state is continuously deteriorating. Living in Punjab is becoming increasingly difficult for people today. The situation has reached a point where people have started selling their homes and putting up posters outside their houses declaring them for sale. While travelling to Faridkot, we saw such posters outside hundreds of houses. When we asked the local village head why people were selling their homes, he explained that they were leaving because drugs were being sold in the area. No one wants their children to become addicted to drugs.
Sardar Kewal Singh Dhillon stated that the Aam Aadmi Party government had ruined Punjab. Once among the leading states in the country, Punjab has now slipped to 22nd place. Bhagwant Mann has no right to continue as Chief Minister. A situation resembling jungle raj has emerged in Punjab, and the Aam Aadmi Party has completely destroyed the law-and-order situation in the state. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has no right to remain in office even for a minute longer. He should step down voluntarily and resign. When the BJP took out its march against drug abuse, people met and spoke to us at several places along the route. They said that the work being done by the BJP against drug abuse was a highly virtuous endeavour. The Bharatiya Janata Party is committed to continuing its fight against drug abuse and standing alongside those affected by it. The suffering of the mothers and sisters in families affected by drug abuse is so heartbreaking that even the officials present became emotional while listening to them. What is happening in Punjab today is deeply distressing. People are waiting for the Model Code of Conduct to come into force. As soon as it is implemented, people will not allow Aam Aadmi Party leaders to enter their villages. People are saying that they will put up boards outside their villages declaring this.
BJP State President of Punjab said that the Aam Aadmi Party government has pushed Punjab into debt. During the previous 60 years, the state had a debt burden of ₹2.82 lakh crore, but in less than four years the AAP government has increased it to ₹5 lakh crore. Corruption in Punjab has reached its limits and has now reached the Chief Minister’s doorstep. Due to gangsterism and extortion, traders are leaving Punjab, and industries are also moving out of the state. Punjab is currently facing power cuts of eight to ten hours daily. The Aam Aadmi Party government failed to formulate any plan to ensure adequate coal supplies. As a result, industries are now suffering due to power shortages. When industries are leaving Punjab, the state government, instead of discharging its responsibilities, shifts the blame to the Central Government. While the BJP is in power at the Centre, arranging coal supplies is the responsibility of the state government. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had claimed that the government had secured a coal mine in Pachwara and that Punjab would face no coal shortage for the next 30 years. Despite this, four power plants in the state remain shut. This has created difficulties for industries.
Sardar Kewal Singh Dhillon stated that government employees in Punjab are not receiving Dearness Allowance (DA) and have been compelled to go on strike to press their demands. This has also affected the functioning of government departments in the state. Employees in other states of the country are receiving 60 percent DA, while the Punjab Government is proposing to provide only 42 percent DA. Even that is to be paid in four installments yet employees got cheated in the first instalment because payment has still not been made. The paddy procurement season has now begun, but the mandis are waterlogged. Just the other day, we saw mandis submerged under three feet of water. Farmers work hard to cultivate paddy and bring their produce to the mandis, but their crops are floating in water as if they had been placed in a river or pond. Farmers, traders, employees, and every section of society in Punjab are facing difficulties. Even police stations are not safe in Punjab. Incidents of attacks have been reported in places including Mohali and Tarn Taran. Recently, a Punjab Police constable was also caught with drugs. Law and order in the state has completely collapsed, gangsterism is increasing, and Punjab’s economic condition is deteriorating. Punjab, which once led the nation, is now falling behind. According to NITI Aayog data, Punjab has slipped to the 17th position.
BJP State President of Punjab asserted that people often ask what magic formula the BJP has to eliminate drugs from Punjab. They should know the Bharatiya Janata Party has its own proven track record. If the BJP can eliminate gangsterism in Uttar Pradesh, it can also curb drugs and crime in Punjab. Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and current Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan had also participated in the yatra against drugs. When Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan assumed office as Chief Minister, the Chambal Valley was plagued by dacoit activity. He set a target of eliminating the Dacoits within seven days and directed the Director General of Police to take action accordingly. Action against Naxalism in Jharkhand and the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir are also part of the BJP’s record. The BJP’s track record demonstrates that it delivers on its commitments. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah Ji and Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji also made it clear in Jalandhar that Punjab would not be allowed to regress. Today, law and order in Punjab has completely broken down. The state is in the grip of what he described as Jungle Raj, while the people are suffering and both their safety and peace are under threat.
