The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) remains a central figure in the ongoing discourse surrounding the drug crisis in Punjab. Political analysts and opponents argue that the party must account for its actions during its ten-year tenure in power, which spanned from 2007 to 2017 in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The debate over the SAD’s responsibility is framed by two primary arguments. First, the party’s extended period of governance during the height of the crisis makes it a target for those seeking accountability for the state's public health and safety failures. Second, critics emphasize the party's self-proclaimed 'Panthic' identity. Because the SAD positions itself as a movement rooted in service and collective responsibility, observers argue that the party is held to a higher standard of moral and political accountability than other secular political entities.

While the SAD has faced criticism for years, the narrative persists that the party has yet to provide sufficient answers regarding how the drug epidemic was allowed to proliferate under its watch. The discussion highlights a tension between the party's historical political dominance and its current struggle to maintain its reputation in the face of long-standing allegations of negligence.