Amritsar Member of Parliament GS Aujla has called for an independent investigation led by a sitting High Court Judge into the hooch tragedy in Majitha, Amritsar. He alleged that a strong nexus between the drug and liquor mafia, supported by some politicians and ਪੁਲਿਸ officers, is behind the incident.
He blamed ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ Bhagwant Mann for not acting against this mafia in the past three years. Aujla said that such tragedies have occurred earlier as well, during both the previous Congress ਸਰਕਾਰ under Capt Amarinder Singh and the current AAP ਸਰਕਾਰ. He said the mafia continues to function openly, harming the ਲੋਕ of ਪੰਜਾਬ.
Calling the recent deaths a wake-up call for the state, he said that ਪੰਜਾਬ does not need an external enemy like Pakistan to destroy its youth, as the drug and liquor mafia is already playing that role within the state. He demanded the resignation of the ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ and the officers responsible.
The MP also criticised the ਸਰਕਾਰ’s liquor policy, stating that expensive liquor is being sold at high prices in official shops. As a result, poor ਲੋਕ are forced to buy cheap and harmful liquor, risking their lives. He said the ਸਰਕਾਰ is more focused on collecting excise revenue than providing safe options for the poor.
Aujla pointed out that this was not the first incident of such kind. In 2020, over 120 ਲੋਕ died in Amritsar, Batala, and Tarn Taran after consuming spurious liquor. In March 2024, 20 ਲੋਕ died in Sangrur. He questioned what action was taken against those responsible, as repeated incidents suggest that ਲੋਕ no longer fear the law.
He said he has written multiple times to the DGP and other officials, warning them about the growing drug crisis in Amritsar and nearby border areas, but no serious action was taken. He has consistently tried to expose the network behind drug and liquor crimes, but his efforts were ignored.
Finally, Aujla urged the ਸਰਕਾਰ to send a high-level team led by a Supreme Court Judge to investigate the supply and production of drugs and poisonous liquor in ਪੰਜਾਬ, especially in Amritsar, to identify and punish those responsible.
