Drug Abuse Out of Control, Government Failed: Jairam Thakur

Shimla, August 13, 2026: Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur alleged that the drug network in the state has become uncontrolled and accused the government of failing to take effective action against drug trafficking.

In a statement issued from Shimla, Thakur questioned the recent seizure of drugs worth more than **₹6 crore**, asking who had ordered such a large consignment and who was the alleged kingpin behind the network. He said the recovery of such large quantities indicated the extent of the drug problem in the state.

Thakur also expressed concern over reported HIV/AIDS figures, claiming that HIV cases in Himachal Pradesh have increased by around 1.5 times over the past two years. He further highlighted the reported increase in cases associated with repeated syringe use, linking the issue to intravenous drug use and warning of the wider public-health consequences.

He accused the government of focusing on events and awareness walks instead of taking sufficiently strong action against drug trafficking. He also alleged that names of influential people had emerged in connection with alleged protection of the drug trade, but claimed that effective action had not been taken against them.

Calling drug abuse a serious threat to Himachal Pradesh, Thakur said increasing incidents of drug-related deaths and other crimes were a matter of grave concern. He urged the government to intensify efforts against the drug trade and appealed to young people to stay away from drugs and encourage others to do the same.

Thakur said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would support strict action against drug abuse and called for collective public participation to combat the problem.