Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria has issued a stern warning regarding the ongoing crisis in the state, emphasizing that illegal operations on this scale are impossible without systemic backing. In a recent interview, Kataria stated directly that “Drug trade at this level cannot survive without administrative and police collusion.” Speaking to The Indian Express, he raised sharp concerns over rising extortion cases, rampant corruption, and a deteriorating law-and-order landscape, insisting that stronger, far more decisive measures are urgently needed to counter these growing threats.

Synthetic Drugs Sinking Vulnerable Families

Identifying illegal substances as one of the most destructive issues facing Punjab today, the Governor explained how addiction is completely wrecking impoverished households and devastating families across the region. Kataria shared that during his personal visits to border villages, he witnessed young people losing their lives only a few months after becoming hooked on synthetic drugs. He pointed out a grim contrast: while alcohol abuse typically takes many years to inflict fatal damage on the body, synthetic chemical substances can end a human life in a matter of weeks or months.

To confront this emergency directly, Kataria personally organized a 17-day foot march across local communities to spread public awareness about the dangers of substance abuse. Throughout this period, he repeatedly urged the Punjab state government to launch a comprehensive, state-wide campaign against illicit trade. While the government did eventually initiate a drive, Kataria stressed that official efforts alone will fail unless everyday citizens actively participate in the movement.

Dismantling the Internal Support System

Elaborating on the mechanics of the crisis, the Governor maintained that large-scale trafficking networks simply cannot thrive unless corrupt individuals within the police and civil service actively protect them. Although authorities have already targeted and punished certain "black sheep" hiding inside the administrative machinery, Kataria cautioned that these initial steps fall far short of what is required. He emphasized that the state government, police force, civil service, and general public must forge a unified front if Punjab is ever to liberate itself from the grip of this crisis.

Kataria had previously highlighted this exact vulnerability during a special session of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation dedicated to combating illegal trade. Speaking to municipal leaders, he stated plainly that “the trafficking cannot survive even 10 days if there is no administrative and police collusion to support it.”

Extortion and Corruption Stifling Public Safety

Beyond substance abuse, Kataria voiced deep alarm over the broader security climate across the state, identifying widespread extortion as an escalating threat. Reports involving threatening phone calls, open firing incidents, and coordinated attacks against commercial establishments have now become almost daily occurrences. This constant climate of fear is frightening local business owners, driving away prospective investors, and severely damaging Punjab’s long-term economic stability.

At the same time, citizens continue to voice intense frustration regarding corruption embedded within political offices and local administrative departments. According to the Governor, fraudulent practices have penetrated the upper echelons of the system, making strict accountability and transparent governance more critical now than ever before.