BJP MP Harbhajan Singh Claims Vindication as Police Confirm Drug Video Origin
Chandigarh: BJP MP and former cricketing legend Harbhajan Singh has found himself at the center of a fresh political debate in Punjab. The state police have officially confirmed that a viral video, which shows a young man allegedly consuming narcotics under the Jagraon bridge, is indeed authentic and located within Punjab.
The confirmation provides a significant moment of relief for the Rajya Sabha MP, who had previously faced embarrassment after sharing a separate video that was incorrectly identified as being filmed in Punjab, only to be fact-checked and traced to Rajasthan.
A Political ‘Doosra’
Harbhajan Singh shared the Jagraon footage—originally posted on social media by fellow BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu—as a challenge to his detractors. In a sharp swipe at critics, the MP remarked that, given the previous controversy, even the Jagraon bridge would likely be declared to be in Rajasthan by “paid trolls.”
The police investigation clarified that while the video in question may be older footage, the individual seen in the clip was apprehended by the Ludhiana police on August 12.
Context of the Controversy
The political theater surrounding these videos is part of a broader, ongoing battle over the drug problem in Punjab. Opposition parties have increasingly utilized viral social media content to criticize the governance of the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
In the previous incident, Harbhajan Singh had shared a disturbing video of individuals walking in a “zombie-like” state, expressing his deep concern for the youth of Punjab. When it was revealed that the video was filmed in Rajasthan, the post was used as fodder to discredit his critique of the state’s law and order situation.
The Ground Reality
Punjab remains locked in a long-standing struggle against the proliferation of opioids, heroin, and synthetic narcotics. The state’s geographical proximity to the Pakistan border continues to be a strategic challenge for law enforcement, with smugglers frequently utilizing advanced methods, including high-tech drones and encrypted communication, to traffic illicit substances.
While the current administration, the Aam Aadmi Party, maintains that it is conducting an aggressive crackdown on drug cartels and disrupting supply chains, the Opposition continues to press the government on the issue. Official policy has attempted to strike a balance between rigorous policing and the expansion of de-addiction and rehabilitation services, though experts suggest that curbing the supply of major trafficking networks remains a complex and persistent challenge for the state.
