CM Bhagwant Mann tells Centre to check Gujarat, not defame Punjab on drugs
Ahead of the BJP's proposed 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras' in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday accused the BJP-led Centre of 'defaming' Punjab over drug abuse and asked it to check drug supplies in Gujarat instead.
Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Mann, accompanied by Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and other senior police officers, praised the Punjab Police for checking drug supplies and maintaining law and order. He also hit out at opposition parties for criticising his government over the law and order situation, saying their claims were nowhere near reality.
Mann said the Punjab government remained in touch with the Union ministry and central agencies and cooperated with them. Referring to drug trafficking, he said packets weighing between one kilogram and five kilograms were coming into the state from Pakistan and were being seized.
He said, '(But) 3,000 kilograms of drugs were caught from a port in Gujarat. It is the home state of the Union Home Minister.' The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had seized nearly 3,000 kg of heroin from Gujarat's Mundra port on September 15, 2021.
The chief minister said Punjab Police had also recovered drugs from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan on the basis of intelligence inputs. He said, 'And the Centre is defaming Punjab. Now they (BJP) say they are going to take out a 'yatra' against drugs from September 18. Take care of your Mundra Port. You can't fool people.'
During the briefing, the DGP presented data on the recovery of drugs, the busting of terror modules and the arrest of drug traffickers. Mann said Punjab shared a 553-km-long border with Pakistan and alleged that the neighbouring country was always conspiring to disturb the state. He said, "Punjab is the gateway of India. If Punjab is disturbed, then India will get disturbed."
Mann said Punjab Police was not only the state's force but also a force serving the nation. He said, '40 per cent of the police force work with the Border Security Force. If any infiltration attempt is made, or any drone comes from across the border, the BSF contacts Punjab Police.'
The BJP plans to take out four 'yatras' across Punjab to create awareness against the menace of drugs and promote a drug-free Punjab, even as Mann has accused the Centre of targeting the state while pointing to drug seizures and trafficking links beyond Punjab.- EndsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Sep 14, 2026 21:12 IST
