Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has hit back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the drug menace, invoking the seizure of nearly 3,000 kg of heroin at Gujarat’s Mundra port and questioning the Centre’s responsibility for preventing cross-border drug smuggling.
ਅਮਿਤ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਜੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਬੋਲਣ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਸਲਾਹਕਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਲਾਹ ਮਸ਼ਵਰਾ ਕਰ ਲੈਣਾ ਸੀ..50 ਕਿਲੋਮੀਟਰ ਰੇਂਜ BSF ਕੋਲ ਹੈ..3000 ਕਿੱਲੋ ਚਿੱਟਾ ਗੁਜਰਾਤ ਦੇ ਕਾਂਡਲਾ port ਤੋਂ ਫੜਿਆ ਜਾ ਰਿਹੈ..ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਦੋਸ਼ ਦੇਣ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਆਪਣੀ ਜਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਸੰਭਾਲੋ..ਆਪਣੇ ਚਮਚਿਆਂ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਲਿਖੇ ਲਿਖਾਏ ਟਵੀਟ copy paste ਨਾ ਕਰੋ..
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) October 16, 2026
In a sharply worded message in Punjabi, Mann told Shah to consult his advisers before making remarks about him. He also referred to the Border Security Force’s (BSF) role in border security and accused Shah of blaming Punjab without adequately addressing his own responsibilities.
Mann’s response comes amid a renewed political confrontation over drugs, law and order and accountability in Punjab. Shah has recently criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government following the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa and another incident in Dirba, where a father allegedly consumed poison under pressure.
Shah said the incidents raised questions about the safety of Punjab’s residents and indicated that the Union Home Ministry would seek responses from the state government.
What Did Bhagwant Mann Say To Amit Shah?
In his message, Mann questioned Shah’s criticism of him and asked the Union Home Minister to take responsibility before blaming the Punjab government.
Mann referred to the BSF’s jurisdiction along the international border and contrasted smaller drug consignments seized in Punjab with the much larger heroin consignment recovered at a Gujarat port.
He also criticised Shah for allegedly relying on prepared social media posts, telling him not to copy and paste tweets written by his advisers.
The remarks reflect Mann’s broader argument that drug trafficking should not be treated solely as a Punjab problem and that authorities must also examine the routes through which narcotics enter other parts of the country.
The allegations and political criticism are part of the ongoing dispute between the AAP government in Punjab and the BJP-led Centre.
Why Did Mann Bring Up Gujarat’s 3,000-Kg Heroin Seizure?
The reference is to the seizure of nearly 3,000 kg of heroin at Mundra port in Gujarat in September 2021. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence carried out the seizure, which became one of India’s most prominent narcotics cases.
Mann has previously cited the case while responding to BJP criticism of Punjab’s drug problem. In September 2026, he urged the Centre to focus on drug supplies through Gujarat’s ports rather than, as he alleged, singling out Punjab.
The chief minister has argued that large consignments recovered elsewhere show why efforts to combat narcotics must examine supply chains and trafficking networks across state boundaries.
The Mundra seizure, however, dates back to 2021. It should not be interpreted as a fresh recovery in October 2026.
What Is The BSF’s Role In Punjab’s Drug Problem?
The BSF guards India’s international borders, including the India-Pakistan border adjoining Punjab. The force operates under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and plays a key role in detecting infiltration and preventing cross-border smuggling.
Punjab shares a 553-km international border with Pakistan, making border surveillance an important part of efforts to stop narcotics from entering the state.
Mann has argued that preventing cross-border trafficking requires coordination between the BSF, Punjab Police and central agencies. His criticism centres on the division of responsibility between the state government, which handles policing within Punjab, and the Centre, which oversees the BSF.
The BSF’s operational responsibilities do not mean that the state police has no role in tackling drug trafficking. Enforcement, investigations and action against trafficking networks involve multiple agencies.
Why Are Amit Shah And Bhagwant Mann Clashing Over Drugs?
The exchange comes as the drug issue gains renewed prominence ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election.
Shah has accused the Mann government of failing to adequately address drugs, gangsterism and organised crime. He has also called for decisive action against trafficking networks and an impartial investigation into allegations of political protection for criminals.
Mann, meanwhile, has defended his government’s anti-drug efforts and accused the BJP-led Centre of targeting Punjab while overlooking drug seizures elsewhere.
The political dispute has intensified following recent incidents involving people who had spoken out against drugs. The two sides are presenting sharply different accounts of responsibility, with the Centre demanding answers from the state government and Mann questioning the Centre’s role in border security.
The latest exchange adds another chapter to the dispute, with the 2021 Mundra port seizure and the BSF’s border responsibilities again featuring in the debate over how India should tackle drug trafficking.
