Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has made a rare and blunt admission — the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government failed to fulfil its guarantee to eliminate chitta, the synthetic drug that has devastated families across the state.
Speaking at a public interaction in Kotkapura during his Lok Milni programme in his constituency, Sandhwan acknowledged the failure directly. He said that while the government had delivered on most of its poll promises, the drug menace remained unvanquished.
Speaker's candid confession on drug menace failure
Sandhwan did not sugarcoat the situation. Addressing the gathering, he said, "Standing among mothers and sisters, I must confess that we could not fulfil our guarantee to eliminate chitta."
The admission is significant because it comes from a senior AAP leader and a constitutional office holder. It confirms what many residents of Punjab have been saying for years — that the drug problem, particularly the use of synthetic drugs like chitta, is far from solved.
Administration still fighting, says Sandhwan
Despite the failure, Sandhwan insisted that the administration was putting up a resolute fight against the illegal trade. He emphasised that unlike in previous regimes, no political figure... — the statement, as reported, was cut off, but the Speaker's point was clear: he believes the current government's approach differs from those that came before.
The Speaker's confession is a rare moment of accountability in Indian politics, where admitting failure on a major poll promise is almost unheard of. It also puts the spotlight back on the AAP government's flagship guarantee to rid Punjab of drugs — a promise that was central to its election campaign.
Our Take: An admission that matters, but action is what counts
To put it plainly, this is a significant moment. When a Speaker — the highest authority in the state legislature — stands before the public and admits his government failed on a core promise, it deserves attention. It shows a level of honesty that is rare in politics.
But an admission is not a solution. The people of Punjab, especially the mothers and sisters Sandhwan addressed, do not need confessions — they need results. The drug trade, particularly chitta, has destroyed countless lives and families. Saying the administration is "fighting" is not enough; the public needs to see tangible outcomes.
The fact that this admission came during a Lok Milni programme — a public outreach event — suggests the government is feeling the pressure. Whether that pressure translates into real action on the ground remains to be seen. For now, this confession is a step toward accountability, but the journey to actually eliminating chitta is still long and uncertain.
