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Politics
Punjab Rs 250‑Crore Drug Census Draws BJP Demand for Data, AAP Defends Survey
✍️ NDTV
🗓 30 Oct 2026, 03:53 PM
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The Punjab government’s Rs 250‑crore drug census has triggered a political clash, with the BJP asking for the collected data while the AAP administration rejects the allegations and says the information is under analysis.
The state government of Punjab has embarked on a comprehensive drug census valued at Rs 250 crore, aiming to map the scale of narcotics consumption and trafficking across the region. The exercise, described by officials as a data‑driven effort to strengthen enforcement, involves multiple departments collecting information from health centres, law‑enforcement agencies and local bodies.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has publicly demanded that the government release the raw data gathered under the census, arguing that transparency is essential to assess the effectiveness of the initiative and to hold the ruling party accountable.
In response, the Aam Aadmi Party administration rejected the BJP’s allegations, stating that the data is currently being analysed by the concerned departments and will be used to formulate targeted interventions. The government emphasized that premature disclosure could compromise ongoing investigations.
Analysts note that the dispute underscores the politicisation of law‑and‑order measures in Punjab, a state that has long grappled with drug‑related challenges. Both parties agree on the need for robust action, but differ on how the information should be handled and presented to the public.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has publicly demanded that the government release the raw data gathered under the census, arguing that transparency is essential to assess the effectiveness of the initiative and to hold the ruling party accountable.
In response, the Aam Aadmi Party administration rejected the BJP’s allegations, stating that the data is currently being analysed by the concerned departments and will be used to formulate targeted interventions. The government emphasized that premature disclosure could compromise ongoing investigations.
Analysts note that the dispute underscores the politicisation of law‑and‑order measures in Punjab, a state that has long grappled with drug‑related challenges. Both parties agree on the need for robust action, but differ on how the information should be handled and presented to the public.