Reaffirming his government’s unwavering resolve to eliminate the drug menace from Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that every individual involved in the drug trade — no matter how powerful — will face the full force of the law. “We will identify and weed out every black sheep, even from within law enforcement,” he asserted.
Mann, interacting with media at his official residence, contrasted the present administration’s tough stand with that of previous regimes. “Earlier, ministers themselves were complicit in the drug trade. Today, not a single member of the ruling dispensation is involved in this heinous crime,” Mann said, stressing his government’s zero-tolerance policy against drugs.
Under the ongoing Yudh Nasheyan De Virudh campaign, Mann said that several villages have already been declared drug-free. “This fight will continue until not a single ounce of drug remains in Punjab. We will not rest until this war is won,” he declared.
Addressing concerns raised by farmer unions, Mann took a swipe at their priorities. “While they’re debating whether or not to talk to me, I’m focused on ensuring their welfare,” he said. With paddy transplantation underway, the state has put robust systems in place to support farmers, he added, reaffirming his government's commitment to the agrarian community.
Turning to the development of border areas, Mann revealed that during a recent NITI Aayog meeting, he had urged the Centre to establish colleges and industries in Punjab’s border districts. “These regions have long been neglected. We need development to secure livelihoods and reduce vulnerability to drugs and crime,” he said.
Raising a red flag on water scarcity, the Chief Minister reiterated that Punjab has no spare water to share with other states. “We are a landlocked, agrarian state with overstressed groundwater and drying river systems. We need more water ourselves,” Mann said, calling for all inter-state water-sharing agreements to be reviewed every 25 years in light of changing realities.
He came down heavily on previous leaderships, accusing them of betraying the state’s interests. “Our predecessors prioritized their own power over Punjab’s future,” he said.
Demanding reconstitution of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Mann said that the state’s interests are being deliberately sidelined. “Over 3,000 posts under Punjab’s quota remain unfilled — this is a calculated move to weaken our stake in water governance,” he alleged. He pledged that Punjab would push aggressively for filling these vacancies to ensure fair representation and control over its water resources.
