Aam Aadmi Party News: Second phase of “War Against Drugs” campaign has begun in Punjab, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal calling upon the people of state to unite and completely eradicate drug menace. Kejriwal said first phase of the campaign was successful and announced that, in this second phase, foot marches will be organised in every village from January 10 to 25 to raise awareness and mobilise public participation. To strengthen the movement, a mobile app for Village Defence Committees and a missed call number (9899100002) have been launched, allowing citizens to directly join the campaign.
Targeting previous governments, Kejriwal alleged that ministers and leaders in the Akali Dal regime were involved in drug trafficking, while traffickers enjoyed protection during the Congress government. He asserted that AAP government is determined to make Punjab drug-free, noting that so far 28,000 cases have been registered and 42,000 drug traffickers have been arrested. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann added that while thousands of quintals of drugs enter Gujarat without anyone being caught, the Punjab government is actively intercepting drug consignments using advanced anti-drone technology.
AAP launches phase 2 of ‘War Against Drugs’ to make Punjab Drug-Free, Kejriwal and CM Mann lead campaign
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has launched the second phase of its “War Against Drugs” campaign to make Punjab drug-free and create a “Vibrant Punjab.” AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann inaugurated this historic campaign on Wednesday. Arvind Kejriwal said that the first phase of the “War Against Drugs” campaign was successful.
Now, in the second phase, public will also be involved in making Punjab drug-free. Under this initiative, foot marches will be organised in every village from January 10 to 25. Village Defence Committee has been formed for this purpose. All information about drug-related activities and the actions taken will be updated on an app uploaded to the mobile phones of 150,000 volunteers associated with this committee. He appealed to the people of Punjab to join this campaign by giving a missed call to the number 9899100002 to help make Punjab drug-free.
Arvind Kejriwal said that after the resounding success of Phase 1 of the “War Against Drugs” campaign, Phase 2 is being launched on Wednesday. Phase 1 was launched approximately 10 months ago, on March 1, 2025. The way Phase 1 was implemented with clear intentions, hard work, and in a remarkable manner, such a war against drugs has never been fought in any state across the country. There are many states, including Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi, where drugs are widely available, but their governments don’t care.
Even in Punjab, before the AAP government, when the Akali Dal government was in power, drugs were supplied to every street and every house during their rule. At that time, the whole of Punjab was under the grip of drugs, and the film “Udta Punjab” was made. Every child in Punjab was affected by the availability of drugs in their homes, and many prominent leaders were involved in drug trafficking.
Kejriwal Slams Amarinder over ‘False Oath’ on Drugs, says AAP waged unprecedented crackdown in Punjab
Arvind Kejriwal said that Captain Amarinder Singh had sworn on the Gutka Sahib (a Sikh religious text) that he would eradicate drugs in 30 or 60 days, but his government lasted for five years, and he did nothing; he only took a false oath. After that, the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power. It took us some time because we had to make all the preparations, but the intensity and determination with which we launched the crackdown against drugs after March 1st last year is unprecedented.
Arvind Kejriwal said that many people told us that drug dealers are very dangerous people, big gangsters and smugglers who can harm you and your family. But we said that we have promised the public that we will make Punjab drug-free and give our children a better future. In the last one year and ten months, 28,000 cases have been filed against drug traffickers. In 75 years since independence, no state has seen such a large number of cases filed.
Arvind Kejriwal further explained that these 28,000 cases are not fake. When these cases went to court and FIRs were filed, in 88 percent of these cases, the accused were sent to jail and the cases were successful. If these were fake cases, the accused would have been acquitted, but those whom the Punjab Police are catching are being punished. Out of 100 cases, 88 resulted in convictions and jail sentences. So far, approximately 42,000 traffickers have been apprehended. No state has seen such a large-scale operation.
Arvind Kejriwal stated that out of the 42,000 traffickers caught, 350 are very big smugglers. It’s not that only small-time dealers were caught; the big ones were also apprehended. People in their villages and areas must have seen that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has demolished the huge mansions, bungalows, buildings, and offices that these traffickers had built using bulldozers. This has made people feel that for the first time, a government has come that is fighting against drugs. The media also covered live how strong action is being taken against them.
Aam Aadmi Party News: After jailing top trafficker, AAP mobilises 1.5 lakh volunteers to fight drugs in Punjab
Arvind Kejriwal said that the biggest drug trafficker, whose name was known throughout Punjab and whose name even the people, the administration, and powerful leaders feared to utter, was apprehended and put in jail by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Previously, no one dared to even mention his name, but the AAP government, with courage, put him behind bars. This boosted people’s morale, and they started coming forward. When they started, the biggest challenge was winning the people’s trust, because people thought that political parties make big promises but nothing ever happens. But when people saw bulldozers demolishing the mansions of drug traffickers and powerful leaders being arrested, they gained confidence.
Sharing an anecdote, Arvind Kejriwal recounted that one day, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called a young man in his village and asked who was selling drugs there. The young man told him who was selling the drugs, where they operated from, and where they obtained the drugs. This showed that the public knows everything about who is selling drugs. Based on this, Phase 2 has been launched today, under which Village Defence Committees (VDCs) have been formed.
Arvind Kejriwal explained that these Village Defence Committees are comprised of people from Punjab itself. From every village and ward, 10, 15, or 20 young people and other residents who want to make Punjab a vibrant and prosperous state have been brought together. So far, 150,000 volunteers have joined these Village Defence Committees, which is no small feat. Until now, the police and administration were working on this, but now 150,000 volunteers will work together to make Punjab drug-free. All of them have received training, and now they will provide information about drug dealers in their villages. All the information will be collected by VDC members.
Arvind Kejriwal further explained that VDC members will be given an app, which will be installed on everyone’s phones. Through this app, people will provide information about who is selling drugs in their village. The name of the person providing the information will be kept confidential. The Punjab government will ensure their safety.
