Jalandhar, September 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday pledged to make Punjab free of the illicit ‘chitta’ trade by December 31, 2029, declaring that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would make the issue of a drug-free state its central focus in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Addressing an anti-drug rally in Jalandhar, Shah urged the people of Punjab, particularly women and young voters, to support the BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections. His address marked the culmination of the party’s 13-day ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’, which covered all 117 Assembly constituencies.
Shah accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of allowing the illicit drug trade to flourish in the state. He said that while Punjab faced several challenges, including issues concerning farmers, industry, law and order and women’s safety, the BJP would focus primarily on eliminating drugs during the next Assembly election campaign.
“Someone who gets intoxicated and insults the Gurus cannot free Punjab from the scourge of drugs,” Shah said, asserting that the BJP was capable of tackling the menace.
Citing figures on nationwide narcotics seizures, Shah compared the records of successive governments, claiming that seizures had increased significantly under the Narendra Modi-led government between 2014 and 2024 compared with the preceding decade.
The Home Minister highlighted Punjab’s contributions to the country’s food security and national defence, praising the sacrifices made by the state’s farmers and people in safeguarding India’s borders.
He said the Centre would take steps to disrupt drug supply chains in Punjab and strengthen the role of central agencies in tackling cross-border smuggling. Shah also called for a united effort involving the public to address drug abuse, particularly among young people.
Before the rally, Shah met families affected by drug addiction and heard their experiences. Referring to his interaction with a mother who had lost two sons to addiction, he highlighted the human cost of the drug menace and called for stronger action.
The BJP said its ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’, which covered nearly 4,000 km under the slogan “BJP da Naara, Nasha Mukauna Saara”, was aimed at raising awareness and mobilising public support against drugs. The campaign also raised issues of corruption and law and order.
The rally comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with the BJP seeking to make drug abuse a major issue in its campaign.
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