New Delhi, Oct. 30 -- Punjab minister Harpal Singh Cheema has cited enforcement figures and a reported decline in drug use to defend the Bhagwant Mann government's anti-narcotics campaign, while criticising rival parties. The Aam Aadmi Party leader said drug use in Punjab had fallen by 5.5%, according to figures he cited.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Cheema challenged the BJP to account for drug-related trends in states under its rule. He cited a newspaper report published on October 25 which, he said, recorded increases of 28% in Delhi, 18% in Uttar Pradesh, 42% in Haryana and 51% in Madhya Pradesh. He said the figures were based on Government of India data, not data compiled by the AAP government.

Cheema said the state h...