Ashwani Sharma Senior State Correspondent with the Outlook. A seasoned journalist with over 30 years of experience in reporting and analysis. Has served as the State Bureau Chief for The Indian Express in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, and has also worked in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, as well as in Chandigarh, Rohtak (Haryana), and Jammu. Holds a doctorate in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s commission to examine new districts and administrative boundaries has reignited debate over better governance, financial costs and the political implications ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections
For the states in the fragile Himalayan region, real-time monitoring and coordination across borders are critical
What are the implications of the Himachal Pradesh government legalising the controlled cultivation of cannabis in light of the rising cases of drug abuse and trafficking of narcotics?
The recent drug overdose deaths, including those of sportspersons of national and international ranking, reflect the grim future that Haryana faces
Cross-border smuggling, rising unemployment and rural distress are fuelling Punjab’s drug crisis
The drug problem, which was once seen primarily as a law-and-order issue in Himachal Pradesh, has evolved into a serious public health and social crisis. State Director General of Police Ashok Tewari talks about how the prevention of the supply line from Punjab, Delhi and Haryana is emerging as the biggest challenge. Edited excerpts from an interview with Ashwani Sharma.
Himachal Pradesh’s proximity to Punjab has made it vulnerable to drug trafficking networks. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu talks about how the state is dealing with a crisis originating beyond its borders, the campaigns launched by the government and the stringent measures taken against police personnel allegedly involved in drug-related activities. Edited excerpts from an interview with Ashwani Sharma.
Punjab’s drug epidemic has not just spilled into Himachal, it has breached the walls of schools and colleges and has seeped into cities, villages, remote valleys and tribal belts
With drugs flowing into the country from the eastern and western epicentres, there is an urgent need to seal our borders and cut ties with the global narcotics economy
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu plans to reduce the sanctioned strength of IAS officers from 153 to 130 and IFS officers from 118 to 83, citing the state’s financial burden and an oversized bureaucracy
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