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 sends a confusing message to the people of Punjab. He said the Aam Aadmi Party government has been fighting drugs seriously on the ground for years. According to him, the government’s campaigns are not symbolic walks but real enforcement actions. Dhaliwal said the Governor’s parallel yatra looks more like a political display. He added that the timing of the yatra raises questions. The AAP leader said people can clearly see the difference between action and showmanship. He stressed that Punjab does not need parallel narratives on drugs.

Why Is AAP Questioning The Company Kept?

Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the presence of certain political leaders in the yatra is deeply troubling. He pointed out that sharing a stage with Sukhbir Singh Badal and BJP leaders cannot send a strong anti-drug message. Dhaliwal said these leaders represent a period when drugs spread across Punjab. He called it condemnable that such faces are projected as partners in an anti-drug effort. According to him, a campaign against drugs must inspire trust. He said this yatra instead raises suspicion. The AAP leader said criminals feel protected when their patrons are given legitimacy. He warned that such optics damage public confidence.

Can Punjab Forget The 2007 To 2017 Period?

The AAP spokesperson reminded people of Punjab’s recent past. He said from 2007 to 2017, drugs flourished openly in the state. Dhaliwal alleged that the same political forces now seen with the Governor were in power then. He said this period destroyed thousands of families and pushed youth into addiction. Referring to the term ‘sixth river’, he said drugs flooded Punjab during that time. Dhaliwal said history cannot be erased with a yatra. He added that people still remember who ruled and who suffered. According to him, accountability cannot be replaced by symbolism. Punjab, he said, has paid too heavy a price to forget.

What Message Is Being Sent To Youth?

Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the youth of Punjab are watching closely. He said young people want justice, not mixed signals. According to him, when leaders accused of protecting traffickers lead anti-drug marches, it confuses society. He said such actions dilute the seriousness of the issue. Dhaliwal warned that this sends a dangerous moral message. He said it appears as if those who ruined Punjab’s future are being given respect. The AAP leader said this hurts families affected by addiction. He added that trust once broken is hard to rebuild. Punjab’s youth, he said, deserve honesty.

How Has AAP Government Fought Drugs?

Dhaliwal said the AAP government’s fight against drugs is consistent and sustained. He said under the leadership of Bhagwant Singh Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, drugs have been treated as the biggest challenge. He said the government has acted at the grassroots level. According to him, enforcement, awareness, and rehabilitation are moving together. He said AAP’s anti-drug yatras are linked to real action. Dhaliwal added that arrests and crackdowns speak louder than slogans. He said results matter more than optics. The fight, he said, is ongoing and serious.

Should Governor Have Chosen Another Path?

The AAP leader said the Governor should have stood with genuine anti-drug warriors. He said many social organisations and individuals have fought drugs honestly for years. According to him, these people deserved recognition. Dhaliwal said the Governor missed an opportunity to strengthen the real movement. He said aligning with controversial political figures weakens the cause. The AAP leader added that institutions must rise above politics. He said neutrality is expected from constitutional positions. According to him, the chosen path has raised doubts instead. Punjab, he said, expected better judgment.

Will People Support Such A Campaign?

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. Dhaliwal said public support cannot be earned through misleading campaigns. He warned that any anti-drug yatra involving political patrons of traffickers will fail. According to him, people have suffered too much to be fooled again. He said AAP will continue its mission with full commitment. The government, he added, stands firmly with Punjab’s youth. Symbolic politics, he said, will not defeat drugs.