Chandigarh, September 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab General Secretary (Organisation) and Chief Spokesperson of the Nasha Mukti Morcha Baltej Pannu on Wednesday urged the BJP to join Punjab’s ongoing ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign instead of launching separate anti-drug yatras, accusing the party of trying to undermine the state’s fight against drugs as enforcement efforts begin showing results.
Reacting to the BJP’s proposed statewide anti-drug yatras from September 18 to 30, Pannu said Punjab had been waging a sustained, people-driven campaign against drugs for nearly one-and-a-half years.
He said that between March 1, 2025, and September 8, 2026, a total of 60,239 cases had been registered and 77,509 persons booked as part of the enforcement drive.
According to the figures cited by Pannu, the campaign also led to the recovery of 3,821.105 kg of heroin, 971.670 kg of opium, 45,209.509 kg of poppy husk/green plants, 1,329.192 kg of ganja, 129.533 kg of charas, 72.224 kg of ice and 4.646 kg of cocaine.
The seizures also included 62,61,754 tablets/capsules and 4,241 injections, besides ₹22.03 crore in drug money, he said.
“BJP should join our Yudh Nashean Virudh. We have done very big work in the last one-and-a-half years,” Pannu said, asserting that the campaign was being conducted by involving people across Punjab.
He alleged that the BJP’s decision to launch a separate campaign reflected an attempt to create a parallel political narrative instead of strengthening the ongoing anti-drug drive.
“BJP has started its own campaign because it feels that we are succeeding in this fight, and therefore it wants to torpedo our work,” Pannu alleged.
Pannu also targeted the BJP over its role in the former SAD-BJP government, which ruled Punjab from 2007 to 2017. He said the decade was marked by a severe drug crisis in the state, with ‘chitta’ becoming closely associated with Punjab’s drug problem.
He further referred to allegations that had surfaced over the years regarding political patronage of the drug trade and alleged links involving drug smugglers, sections of the police and political actors.
“The BJP should therefore first answer for the damage inflicted on Punjab’s youth during its decade in government with the Akalis, before attempting to make drugs an electoral issue today,” Pannu said.
He added that if the BJP was genuinely committed to fighting drugs, it should join the state’s ongoing campaign and work alongside the people rather than attempt to undermine it.
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