Governor’s Anti-Drug Yatra With Political Patrons Of Traffickers Is Mere Showmanship, Says Kuldeep Dhaliwal

Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the so-called anti-drug yatra launched by Gulab Chand Kataria looks more like political theatre than a genuine fight against drugs. He said the AAP government has been leading a real, sustained battle against narcotics on the ground. According to him, these efforts involve enforcement, awareness, and rehabilitation. Dhaliwal said parallel campaigns only create confusion. He added that symbolism cannot replace action. The people of Punjab, he said, understand the difference. He warned against turning a serious issue into a spectacle.

Why Is The Company Raising Questions?

Dhaliwal said the presence of certain political leaders in the yatra completely undermines its purpose. He strongly objected to sharing the stage with Sukhbir Singh Badal and BJP leaders. According to him, these are the same leaders under whose watch drugs spread across Punjab. He said any anti-drug initiative involving such figures lacks moral authority. Dhaliwal said criminals feel emboldened when their political patrons are legitimised. He added that trust is the foundation of any movement. Without credibility, he said, no campaign can succeed.

Can Punjab Forget Its Painful Past?

The AAP spokesperson reminded people of the 2007 to 2017 period in Punjab. He said drugs flourished openly during those years. Dhaliwal alleged that political protection allowed traffickers to operate freely. Referring to drugs as Punjab’s so-called sixth river, he said the damage to families was irreversible. He said thousands of young lives were destroyed. According to him, no yatra can erase that history. Punjab, he said, still lives with those scars. Accountability must come before public walks. Memory, he said, cannot be wiped clean.

What Message Does This Send To Youth?

Dhaliwal said Punjab’s youth are closely observing every move. He said young people want justice, not mixed signals. According to him, when leaders accused of protecting drug networks lead anti-drug marches, the message becomes distorted. He said such actions weaken public faith. Families affected by addiction feel betrayed, he added. Dhaliwal warned that this moral confusion is dangerous. He said it normalises past wrongdoing. Punjab’s youth, he stressed, deserve clarity and honesty. Anything less deepens distrust.

How Has AAP Tackled Drugs So Far?

Dhaliwal said the AAP government has treated drugs as its biggest challenge. Under the leadership of Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, the fight has been continuous and focused. He said anti-drug yatras by the government are linked to real enforcement action. According to him, arrests, seizures, and rehabilitation efforts are ongoing. He added that results matter more than slogans. The government, he said, believes in ground-level change. This battle, he stressed, is not occasional. It is consistent and serious.

Should The Governor Have Chosen Differently?

The AAP leader said the Governor should have walked with genuine anti-drug activists. He said many organisations and individuals have fought this menace honestly for years. According to him, they deserved support and recognition. Dhaliwal said constitutional authorities must rise above political optics. He added that neutrality is expected from such positions. By aligning with controversial figures, he said, the Governor weakened the cause. Punjab expected moral leadership, he added. Instead, doubts were created.

Will Punjab Support Such A Yatra?

Concluding his statement, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the people of Punjab know the truth. He said they can clearly identify who fought drugs and who protected traffickers. According to him, public support cannot be manufactured. Any anti-drug campaign involving political patrons of traffickers, he said, will fail. The AAP government, he added, will continue its mission with full commitment. Punjab’s future, he said, cannot be negotiated. Showmanship, he concluded, will never defeat drugs.