Kheda calls for people‑led agenda as Punjab grapples with drug surge

Pawan Kheda, a senior Congress parliamentarian from Punjab, urged that the party's manifesto should be drafted after extensive consultations with ordinary citizens, not from office corridors. Referring to the recent tragedy linked to drug abuse, he said the incident has exposed the state's failure to control narcotics and maintain law and order.

He emphasized that the electorate is no longer willing to accept empty slogans. "When leaders come to power on big promises and later cheat the public, the people will not put up with it," Kheda said.

The MP praised the appointment of Pargat Singh as the new state president, noting Singh's background as a sportsperson who can rally support across different sections of the party. He pledged that together they would fight the upcoming elections with maximum vigor.

Kheda also targeted the central Home Minister’s recent visit, questioning the jurisdiction over the 50‑kilometre border area and demanding accountability for continued drug inflow. He challenged the government's narrative of a "triple‑engine" administration, asking why drug consignments still reach Punjab through ports like Muandra.