In an indication of rise in communal politics in the state, the past one and a half years witnessed several instances of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, sparking unrest across the state. The first incident was reported in October 2015, in Bargari village of Faridkot. The protests that followed were marked by a lathicharge in Kotkapura Chowk village and police firing in Behbal Kalan in which two men were killed. There have been instances of desecration of Bhagvad Gita as well as the Quran. A Delhi AAP MLA was allegedly framed in the latter instance. With none of the cases having been solved yet, the Opposition parties have promised voters to bring the culprits to book.
Punjab has been grappling with a serious drug problem. Opoid consumption in the state has been degenerating its youth for years. In fact, according to a study conducted by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre at AIIMS, about 76 per cent of drug consumers belong to the age group of 18-35 years. The research, conducted across 10 districts in Punjab, also reflects that in a 2.77 crore state population, 2.3 lakh individuals are dependent on opoid, while 1.23 lakh are addicted to heroin. The study once released received a huge backlash and denial from the SAD-BJP alliance with BJP, too, discrediting the statistics that AIIMS offered.
