Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) senior leader and member of Parliament from Punjab, Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said people of the state have lost patience over drug menace in the state.

In a Press statement, the MP from Sangrur said the ruling Congress had promised to curb the drug menace within four weeks of coming to power, but the Amarinder Singh government has miserably failed to do the job as indicated by the fact the young men are dying in the state everyday due to drug addiction. Mann said as per various reports, more than 25 youth have embraced death in past three weeks due to intoxicants. Officially the number could be much more, he added.

The AAP leader said due to this failure of the Amarinder Singh government to end the drug menace, people have lost their patience over this issue. As a result of this, Punjabis have started a campaign “die or protest” against drug menace through social media.

He said every Punjabi should support this campaign rising above party politics, religion and caste. Mann said from July 1 to July 7, giving support to the black week against the drugs, the entire AAP Punjab would support this campaign.

After number of drug related deaths in various districts of Punjab in June, a non-political movement against drugs especially chitta (heroin) has been launched by the people on social media. The movement has been named ‘Chittey De Virodh Vich Kaala Hafta- Maro Jaan Virodh Karo’(Black Week Against Drugs- Either Die or Protest).

This movement is getting support from youths, Punjabi singers, actors, advocates, theatre artistes besides others across the state who are planning to launch it as a mass movement on the ground as well. Initially, a map of Punjab in black colour is being circulated to protest the deaths and people have already made it their display photograph on Facebook and WhatsApp.

The AAP Punjab has already announced to take out a “protest march” to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s official residence on July 2.

The Shiromani Akali Dal, too, has sought the resignation of the Chief Minister over the same issue with it spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema accusing Amarinder of failing to keep his poll promise of wiping out the menace within four weeks of coming to power.

As the Congress government in Punjab drawing flak for being unable to curb the drugs menace, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora had on Friday issued strict directives to the field police officers to crack down on the activities of gangsters and drug smugglers.

The DGP told the police officers that they would be held accountable for any drug smuggling in their areas.