Harbhajan criticizes Punjab's demolition drive against drug dealers

Harbhajan Singh, a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, has stirred controversy with his comments against the government’s demolition campaign targeting drug dealers. Singh stated that “bulldozing is not the solution” to the state's drug crisis. His remarks were met with strong criticism from fellow AAP leader Somnath Bharti. Bharti condemned Singh's stance, emphasizing that drug lords have caused immense pain in Punjab. He stressed that these criminals have negatively impacted many families and urged that they must be held accountable. Singh is the second AAP Rajya Sabha member to disagree with the party's current approach, following Ashok Kumar Mittal's recent praise for the central government's actions. Singh suggested that instead of demolishing homes, the government should arrest drug suppliers and educate them on the dangers of drug abuse. He argued that many houses provide shelter to families and that the government should look for better solutions, such as relocating residents if necessary. In response, Bharti insisted that the situation in Punjab, once known for its spirituality, has unfortunately turned into a drug crisis. He criticized Singh for what he sees as prioritizing drug dealers over the youth's wellbeing. Bharti reminded Singh of his role as a youth icon and urged him to support efforts to protect the young people of Punjab. The Punjab government has been actively demolishing illegal structures linked to drug trafficking since it launched its anti-drug campaign on February 28. Over two dozen properties have been taken down so far.