Chemist Assn joins anti-drug campaign, controversy erupts over admn’s actions

In a unified push to strengthen the ongoing “Yudh Nashe De Virudh” (War against drugs) campaign, the civil administration of Phagwara organised a meeting with members of the local Chemist Association to promote responsible pharmaceutical practices and address the misuse of prescription drugs.

The meeting, chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Dr Akshita Gupta and Superintendent of Police (SP) Rupinder Kaur Bhatti, aimed to educate chemists about their crucial role in combating substance abuse.

Drug Inspector Anupam Kalia spoke to the attendees, urging pharmacy owners to strictly follow legal guidelines, including dispensing medicines only against valid prescriptions and ensuring each prescription slip is stamped to prevent repeated misuse.

Pharmacists were also instructed to implement functional CCTV surveillance and maintain comprehensive records of sales and purchases to assist in monitoring and enforcement efforts.

“Pharmacists are the first checkpoint in the drug supply chain. Their vigilance and compliance with the law are vital to the success of this campaign,” one official stated during the session.

However, the initiative has sparked political controversy. Phagwara MLA and Kapurthala District Congress Committee president Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal criticised the approach, alleging that the administration is unfairly targeting chemists under the guise of enforcement. He specifically pointed to a notice issued by the SP requesting three months’ worth of CCTV footage from all pharmacies, calling it “excessive and unjustified.”

“The government has failed to effectively tackle the drug crisis and is now attempting to deflect attention by pressuring law-abiding chemists,” Dhaliwal said in a statement. He added that those not involved in the illegal drug trade should not be subjected to unnecessary scrutiny and warned that the Congress party would support peaceful protests if the situation continues.

Dhaliwal also referred to recent incidents, including the tragic deaths in Majitha due to illicit liquor, as evidence of systemic failures in enforcement and intelligence gathering.

Jalandhar