Anti-drug protester detained during Punjab CM's event; row escalates

An anti-drug activist's protest during an official event in Punjab has sparked a political controversy, with opposition figures leveling accusations against the state government. The man, who was campaigning against the drug menace gripping the state, displayed a black cloth and raised slogans criticizing the government's handling of the issue while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was present at the event. Police detained the protester following the incident at the venue.

Following his release, the man claimed he had been physically assaulted during his detention. The allegation has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, including Vikramjit Singh Majithia, who have seized on the incident to attack the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government's record on public accountability and freedom of expression.

Majithia and other opposition voices have used the episode to question the government's commitment to addressing Punjab's persistent drug crisis, even as it has taken action against dissent. The incident underscores growing tensions between the state administration and civil society activists focused on the narcotics trafficking issue, which remains a significant concern in Punjab despite repeated official assurances of crackdowns.