Chandigarh-The Chairman of the Yudh Nashian Virudh Cabinet Sub-Committee, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, declared on Friday that as the decisive war for complete eradication of drugs from the state has been gaining momentum the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government has adopted a stringent zero-tolerance policy against individuals involved in drug trafficking. He warned that that no one involved in this scourge or attempting to shield offenders will be spared, regardless of their position or influence.
In a press communiqué issued here following a two-day whirlwind tour of districts Rupnagar, SBS Nagar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Tarn Taran to boost the Yudh Nashian Virudh Campaign across the state, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema revealed that 530 FIRs have been registered, 697 individuals arrested, and narcotics including 42 KG of heroin, 15 KG of opium, and 41, 027 medical drugs have been seized in the state from March 1 to March 5 under the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign.
The Finance Minister highlighted various activities being conducted in the state, including cordon and search operations of hotspots under the supervision of senior police officials, checking of jails for mobile phones, checking of chemist shops, and raids on known smugglers, drug traffickers, and couriers. Additionally, public participation is being encouraged through meetings with students in urban and rural schools and colleges, and organizing Sampark meetings under the anti-drug campaign. Finance Minister Cheema said that the authorities have been directed to intensify their efforts against the sale of banned drugs also, emphasizing the crucial role of drug inspectors in this endeavor.
The Finance Minister said that while the conviction rate in NDPS cases was 58 percent during the previous Congress government, it has increased to 86 percent over the last three years under the AAP-led state government, with a goal to reach 100 percent. He highlighted SBS Nagar's impressive 99 percent and Rupnagar’s 95 percent conviction rate.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also launched a scathing attack on the previous SAD-BJP and Congress-led state governments, stating that the synthetic drug "Chitta" was unheard of before the SAD-BJP regime took power from 2007 to 2017. He criticized Captain Amarinder Singh's symbolic oath taking at Sr Talwandi Sabo, calling it ineffective in tackling the drug issue during his tenure. Furthermore, Cheema pointed out that Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi also failed to make a significant impact in curbing the drug menace in the state.