A fresh political storm has erupted in Punjab as the administration faces intense pressure over its failure to release the findings of a comprehensive drug survey conducted earlier this year. The Bharatiya Janata Party has strongly criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's government, demanding that the census data be made public immediately as scrutiny mounts ahead of upcoming assembly elections.
Massive Door-to-Door Exercise Under Scrutiny
The controversial census involved deploying nearly 28,000 state government employees who visited approximately 65 million households across the region. Field workers were tasked with identifying individuals battling substance abuse, mapping supply networks, and assessing how many people required professional rehabilitation. Despite the massive scale of this outreach, the administration has kept the findings under wraps, triggering widespread political backlash and accusations of administrative opacity.
Financial Misuse Allegations Raised by Sunilk Jakhar
Prominent BJP leader Sunil Jakhar questioned the rationale behind sinking roughly 250 crore rupees into a massive survey when the resulting data remains hidden from the public eye. He alleged that the entire exercise served as a pretext to drain the state exchequer through wasteful spending. Consequently, the party has formally demanded that central agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation and the National Investigation Agency take over the probe to uncover potential financial irregularities.
Origins and Scope of the Drug Census Initiative
The state-led mapping drive was originally launched to assess the ground realities of substance abuse and dismantle local supply chains. Reports from 2025 indicated that an initial budget of 150 crore rupees was allocated for the operation. The massive data collection officially commenced on May 5, 2026, utilizing regular educators, contract teachers, and computer operators to canvas neighborhoods. The escalating controversy comes in the wake of strong statements from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who previously vowed to track down drug syndicates from the depths of the earth.
