The Punjab Congress has strongly denounced the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's proposed "Drug and Socio-Economic Census," cautioning that the initiative will stigmatize the state and function as a taxpayer-funded data-mining operation.
Congress Raises Concerns Over Privacy and Motives
State Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring questioned the legitimacy of the census on Sunday, arguing that families are unlikely to disclose drug use to government enumerators. "Which family will reveal that a member is hooked to drugs?" Warring said in a statement. "It is a private and confidential matter. If the purpose is truly to collect data on addiction, it will fail."
He alleged that the survey is a "pre-election" maneuver designed to gather voter data at public expense. Warring further claimed that the government might use the results to produce "self-congratulatory figures" to falsely assert that its anti-drug campaigns are succeeding.
Existing Data and Potential Damage
Warring noted that the health department already maintains comprehensive data through de-addiction centers, which require Aadhaar cards for regulated treatment. "The government already has the figures," he said, adding that a public census would only serve to further damage the state's reputation.
The Congress leader emphasized that instead of conducting a potentially invasive and ineffective census, the AAP government should focus on strengthening existing de-addiction programs and ensuring proper implementation of anti-drug measures. He warned that the census could lead to social stigma for families and communities, undermining trust in government initiatives.
This development comes amid ongoing political tensions in Punjab, where drug abuse has been a major issue. The AAP government has defended the census as a necessary step to understand the scale of the problem and tailor interventions accordingly. However, critics argue that the exercise is politically motivated and lacks transparency.
