Cricketer-turned-politician Harbhajan Singh said he decided to leave the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and join the BJP because he felt his views were not being heard in the party. He also spoke about Punjab’s growing drug problem and the protests that followed his political switch.
The 46-year-old former off-spinner spoke about the protests outside his Jalandhar home after he joined the BJP. Harbhajan was elected to the Rajya Sabha on an AAP ticket in 2022. He later joined the BJP in April this year along with six other AAP leaders.
Harbhajan recalled that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had asked him to join AAP to represent the party in the Rajya Sabha and raise issues related to sports. He said he had made it clear from the beginning that he would focus only on sports and stay away from politics.
He said the main reason for joining AAP was the opportunity to promote sports in Punjab as well as at the national level. However, when he put forward his ideas, he felt the party did not pay attention to them.
Harbhajan said he eventually became frustrated after his suggestions failed to receive a response and his role remained limited. He said the work that had prompted him to join AAP was not moving forward. He added that he would have stayed with the party even if only a small part of his suggestions had been implemented. But since his main purpose was not being fulfilled, he decided to leave.
The AAP criticised the leaders who left the party, accusing them of betrayal. Protests were also held outside Harbhajan’s house, including the burning of his effigy.
Asked about the protests, Harbhajan said he did not want to name anyone. He said people could easily understand who the protesters were and where they had come from.
He questioned why people who knew him for his cricket career and had supported him for years would call him a traitor or burn his effigy. He also asked what exactly he had betrayed.
Harbhajan questioned AAP over its promises to the people of Punjab and asked what the party had done for the state. He said simply calling someone a traitor did not make them one and added that the same applied to accusations of being a thief.
He said his loyalty remained with India and Punjab and that his love for his country did not require anyone else’s approval. Harbhajan added that he would not allow criticism or political comments to distract him from his work.
Punjab has been struggling with drug abuse for years. Available surveys cited in the report indicate that at least 15 per cent of the state’s residents have admitted to substance abuse.
While alcohol continues to account for the largest share of dependence, the increasing use of opioids such as heroin has also raised concern among health professionals and law enforcement agencies.
Government data cited in the report shows that more than 70,000 drug-related cases were registered in Punjab between 2022 and 2026. These cases resulted in over 95,000 arrests.
Harbhajan said the damage caused by drug abuse cannot be overstated. He said the problem affects not only Punjab but young people wherever drugs gain a foothold. He pointed to sports as an example, saying Punjab was once among the leading states in the country when it came to sports.
Harbhajan recalled that Sansarpur, a small village in Jalandhar, had once produced nine players for India’s hockey team. He also referred to the talent associated with the Surjit Singh Hockey Academy in Jalandhar.
He said the easy availability of drugs and their spread into homes had severely affected young people. According to him, areas affected by drug abuse risk losing entire generations.
Harbhajan said Punjab’s position as a border state makes the drug problem even more serious. He questioned how drugs were entering the state and said steps must be taken to stop their supply. He said the problem had reached homes and was affecting young people, making strict laws and stronger action necessary.
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