Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria has said that Punjab’s drug problem at this level cannot continue without support from people within the police and the administration. In an interview with The Indian Express, Kataria also raised concerns over rising extortion cases, corruption and the overall law and order situation in the state, saying stronger action is needed to tackle these challenges.
Drug crisis hitting families hard
Calling drugs one of Punjab’s biggest problems, the Governor said addiction is destroying poor families and affecting entire households. He said he has personally seen young people in border villages lose their lives within just a few months after getting addicted to synthetic drugs. According to him, while alcohol abuse usually takes years to cause serious damage, synthetic drugs can claim lives much faster.
Kataria said he had organised a 17-day foot march to spread awareness against drug abuse and had repeatedly asked the Punjab government to launch a state-wide campaign. He noted that the government later started such a drive, but said that public participation remains equally important.
‘Drug network needs inside support’
The Governor said drug trafficking cannot grow without help from people inside the police and administrative system. While action has been taken against some “black sheep” in the system, he said those steps alone are not enough. He stressed that the government, police, administration and the public must work together if Punjab wants to free itself from the drug menace.
The governor had reiterated this part in a speech during a special session of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation on the issue of drug abuse and illegal trade in June. He stated that the trafficking cannot survive even 10 days if there is no administrative and police collusion to support it.
Crime and corruption remain major concerns
Kataria also expressed concern over the law-and-order situation, saying extortion has become a serious problem in Punjab. He said reports of threatening calls, firing incidents and attacks on business establishments are being heard almost every day, creating fear among investors and affecting economic growth.
He further said that people continue to raise concerns about corruption in politics and the administration. According to him, corruption has reached the higher levels of the system, making accountability and better governance more important than ever.
