Drug trade, gang wars prompt MP Aujla to seek Centre’s intervention in Lok Sabha

Congress MP from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla on Wednesday introduced an Adjournment Motion in the Lok Sabha, calling the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab “an extremely serious, emergency, and national security crisis”.

He said the rising drug trade, gang wars, extortion and threats being received by NRI families in Punjab were alarming, adding that the situation had now become a matter of national security requiring immediate intervention by the Central Government.

Aujla said cases of open sale of drugs in villages, continuous arrests of gangsters, firing at wedding functions and extortion demands targeting NRI families were being reported daily. He added that many serious crimes were being orchestrated from inside jails.

In his appeal, the MP demanded that the Union Home Minister take two immediate steps: first, declare the situation in Punjab a national security issue, and second, form a joint Centre-state task force to disrupt the drug and arms supply chain and protect NRI families facing threats.

He also sought an investigation into gangs, activities inside jails, unemployment and related issues under the supervision of a high court judge.

“The youth of Punjab is living in fear and unrest, and many families are being forced to go abroad due to extortion and threats. Graffiti has surfaced alleging open drug sales in villages; arrests continue in extortion cases involving crores of rupees; and NRI families are openly facing threats. This clearly indicates that law and order is rapidly collapsing in Punjab and organised crime is being operated from within jails,” he said.

“It is time for immediate intervention by the Central Government. The Punjab issue is no longer limited to law and order, it has become a direct threat to the country’s internal security,” he added.

Aujla reiterated his demand for an inquiry headed by a high court judge into the growing network of gangsters in Punjab, criminal activities being run from jails, rising unemployment and the possibility of alleged political patronage.