Declaring the Village Defence Committees (VDC) as the cutting edge of Punjab’s anti-drug campaign, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday said Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ has moved from government resolve to ground-level enforcement in every village. AAP Punjab State Media Incharge Baltej Pannu described VDC members as “frontline warriors” and the government’s “eyes and ears” against the drug mafia, asserting that every input received through the committees is acted upon directly and without delay.
The identity of members providing information remains completely confidential, while weekly or fortnightly review meetings in each village and ward are being held to identify drug hotspots. In the past 15 days alone, more than 300 street-level drug peddlers have been arrested with the help of VDC inputs, signalling a sustained and system-driven crackdown rather than a symbolic exercise.
Addressing a press conference at the party Office on Tuesday, AAP Punjab’s State Media Incharge Baltej Pannu said, “The Village Defence Committee (VDC) oath-taking ceremony held on Monday at Killi Chahal in Moga has further increased the discomfort of those traditional parties that pushed Punjab’s youth into the fire of ‘chitta’ (synthetic drugs) for their political gains.
Punjab is now moving towards eliminating the drug menace once and for all, which is troubling those who once encouraged drugs.” The AAP Punjab State Media Incharge pointed out, “From 2007 to 2017 and then from 2017 to 2022, Punjab witnessed that dark phase when if any drug smuggler was caught, within a few hours his photographs would go viral with the then ruling party leaders.”
He added, “These leaders, for the sake of money, destroyed Punjab’s youth. Today, when CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s government is fighting a war against drugs with full willpower, these opposition leaders are making absurd statements in panic.”
Baltej Pannu said, “The huge gathering witnessed at Killi Chahal in Moga is bothering the opposition. Despite his poor health, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann came straight from the hospital to the rally and administered the oath to 1.25 lakh members, which reflects his commitment to the war against drugs.
Those who are questioning the presence of officers at the event perhaps have forgotten that this war against drugs is not only the government’s war, but a collective fight of the police, administration and the people.” He said, “CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ has made VDC members frontline warriors in every village.
The VDCs are the Punjab Government’s eyes and ears against the drug mafia, and direct action is taken on every input received through them. The name and identity of VDC members giving information will remain completely confidential. Weekly or fortnightly VDC review meetings are being held in every village and ward to identify drug hotspots.
In the last 15 days, more than 300 street-level drug peddlers have been arrested with the help of VDCs.” Baltej Pannu noted, “In every village and ward of Punjab, a Village Defence Committee has been formed by bringing together 8 to 10 aware citizens.
This is not a mere paper exercise, as Captain Amarinder Singh had done in 2018. Today, every member has a special app through which direct information about drug sellers reaches the Police Headquarters and the Chief Minister’s Office.
So far, more than 1,400 complaints have been received through this app, on which strict action has been taken and FIRs have been registered. This people’s movement itself is the biggest defeat of the opposition.”
Targeting opposition leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Baltej Pannu said, “Why did his pen not move at the time when the people of Punjab were deceived with a false oath on Gutka Sahib? Today, when the police, administration and the public are united in fighting against drugs, Randhawa Sahib is writing letters to the Centre.”
He made it clear, “The Mann government has ended the ‘parcha culture’ in Punjab and no false action will be taken against any innocent person, but those who sell drugs will not be spared.” Baltej Pannu said, “These opposition parties want the people to keep dying due to drugs in Punjab so that they can do their dirty politics over them.
The 1.25 lakh VDC members will not only respond to drug smugglers but will also respond to those leaders who are speaking against this campaign. When the opposition leaders go to villages, the people of Punjab will ask them why they are troubled when citizens have come forward to save their children.
Under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, this war will continue until Punjab becomes completely drug-free.”