Punjab CM Mann vows to continue demolishing drug peddlers’ houses
Punjab CM Mann says demolition of drug peddlers’ houses will continue as crackdown intensifies
On the 134th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann said the state government will continue demolishing the houses of drug peddlers. The function was held at Punjabi University in Patiala, where Mann said such houses, built with money earned from drugs, will not be allowed to stand.
Mann strongly stated that drug-related properties are a symbol of pain and destruction in society. “I won’t allow a situation where one family is mourning the death of their child due to drugs, and the house of the peddler who sold the drugs is celebrating,” he said. “We will demolish such houses. The bricks used in these houses are soaked in the blood of our youth.”
He made it clear that his government is serious about ending the drug problem in Punjab. Mann explained that the drive to tear down these illegal properties will continue until the state is free from drugs. According to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president Aman Arora, around 60 drug-related illegal properties have already been demolished.
Breaking the nexus
The chief minister also talked about the connection between some police officers and drug peddlers. He said some lower-level Punjab Police officials used to inform peddlers about upcoming raids, giving them time to escape or hide evidence. To deal with this, Mann said the government has transferred many officers who had been at the same post for years. These mass transfers aim to break the link between corrupt officers and the drug mafia.
Mann said the fight against drugs is being done in a careful and organised way. He mentioned that the government is not just taking down buildings, but also providing support to drug addicts who want to recover. He talked about the Out-Patient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics, where enough medicines have been stocked to help people deal with withdrawal symptoms. He added, “Our campaign is well-planned. A lot of hard work has already been put into it.”
Meanwhile, Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema also spoke at a separate event held at DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology (DAVIET) in Jalandhar. He said the AAP government is working to fulfil Ambedkar’s dream of social equality and justice.
Cheema highlighted that for the first time in Punjab’s history, six Scheduled Caste (SC) ministers are part of the state cabinet. He said this shows how serious the government is about giving representation to marginalised communities.
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Cheema also announced that reservation has been introduced in the advocate general’s office. This step is aimed at giving equal opportunities in legal services to people from Scheduled Castes. He added that the SC scholarship scheme has also been improved to make sure students get the money on time, without any difficulties. This support helps them study without financial stress.
Both leaders used Ambedkar’s birth anniversary as a reminder of the government’s commitment to fight social injustice and the drug problem. They said Ambedkar’s ideas guide the AAP government as it works to create a more equal and healthy society in Punjab.
By focusing on both law enforcement and social welfare, the Punjab government aims to tackle drug addiction and give hope to those affected. At the same time, efforts are being made to bring real change in the lives of marginalised communities, just as Ambedkar had always dreamed.
