Pathankot, September 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Friday flagged off the first ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’ from Ekta Sthal at Madhopur in Pathankot, calling for a decisive and collective campaign against drug abuse in Punjab. The statewide campaign will cover all 117 Assembly constituencies through four routes before culminating in Jalandhar on September 30.
Addressing the gathering, Nabin said Punjabis wanted a “rising Punjab” rather than an “Udta Punjab”. He alleged that corruption, deterioration in law and order and the drug network had adversely affected the state, and called for a sustained campaign involving political workers, social organisations and the public.
Nabin said the BJP’s strategy against drugs would focus on targeting drug traffickers, disrupting supply networks, confiscating proceeds of the drug trade, rehabilitating people affected by addiction and involving society in the campaign.
“Today is a very special day. I have come to connect with the pain being experienced in households across Punjab,” Nabin said, according to the BJP account of his remarks.
He said he had come from Patna, associated with the life of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, to carry the message of de-addiction across Punjab.
Nabin Targets AAP Government Over Drug Issue
Nabin alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government had failed to address the concerns of families affected by drugs and had instead allowed the issue to become linked with political power. He also accused the government of weakening the morale of families campaigning against drugs.
He alleged that people speaking out against the drug menace had faced attempts at intimidation and referred to the recent death of a Dalit man who, according to his allegation, had raised his voice against drugs. Nabin further alleged that BJP leaders and workers visiting the victim’s family were stopped by AAP workers.
The allegations come amid an ongoing political dispute in Punjab over the drug menace and the death of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh. The AAP government has rejected opposition allegations and said the matter is under investigation.
Nabin said the BJP would organise anti-drug yatras from different parts of Punjab to connect people with the campaign and bring social organisations into the effort.
‘Drugs Cannot Be Punjab’s Identity’: Nitin Nabin
Nabin said drugs could not become Punjab’s identity or strength, arguing that the state’s identity was rooted in its heritage, the teachings of the Gurus, the contribution of farmers and the achievements of its sportspersons.
He also cited the BJP’s past political commitments, including its campaign on Article 370 and its stated efforts against terrorism and Naxalism, while saying the party had now resolved to eliminate drugs.
The four yatras are planned to collectively cover around 4,000 km and all 117 Assembly constituencies. The first route began from Pathankot on September 18, with subsequent yatras scheduled to start from Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka and Talwandi Sabo between September 19 and 21.
Kewal Singh Dhillon Promises Drug-Free Punjab Within Two Years
Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon described the campaign as a people’s movement rather than merely a political programme. He said BJP workers would reach every household and campaign across all 117 Assembly constituencies.
Dhillon said the BJP would seek to eradicate drugs from Punjab within two years of coming to power, in line with the resolve announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
He appealed to people to participate in the campaign by rising above party politics. Dhillon also criticised the AAP government over its handling of the drug issue and said attempts to disrupt the BJP’s campaign would not deter party workers.
Referring to claims previously made by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal about making Punjab drug-free within three months, Dhillon alleged that the drug problem had instead worsened. He used the example of delayed pizza deliveries to make a political point about the alleged ease with which ‘chitta’ was being delivered.
Dhillon said families affected by addiction were asking when their sons and brothers would be brought back from drugs, and alleged that the government was attempting to suppress voices raising the issue.
He further claimed that public resentment against the AAP government was growing and alleged that some villagers were considering putting up boards barring AAP leaders from entering their villages.
Manpreet Badal Says Punjab’s Image Has Suffered
BJP national vice-president Manpreet Singh Badal said Punjab’s traditional identity was gradually being eroded and alleged that the drug menace had damaged the state’s image across the country.
Badal has previously said that the fight against drugs cannot be limited to registering FIRs against addicts and peddlers and has advocated rehabilitation as well as following the money trail to dismantle drug networks.
Ashwani Sharma Calls for a People’s Movement
Former Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma said the campaign had been launched from a historic site associated with Syama Prasad Mookerjee and described the drug problem as one affecting families across Punjab.
He said that while the campaign carried the BJP’s political banner, the issue itself concerned every household. Sharma said the party’s campaign to make Punjab and the country drug-free had begun from the state.
Senior BJP Leaders Attend Launch
Former Union minister Vijay Sampla, Parliamentary Committee member Iqbal Singh Lalpura, former Lok Sabha member Preneet Kaur, former Rajya Sabha member Shwait Malik, former Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia, Mukerian MLA Jangi Lal Mahajan and former Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly Dinesh Babbu were among those who addressed the gathering.
Those present included BJP national general secretary and Punjab in-charge Satish Poonia, co-in-charge Saudan Singh, co-in-charge Dr Narendra Singh Raina, Rajya Sabha members Tarun Chugh, Bikramjit Sahni and Satnam Singh Sandhu, former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, Punjab BJP general secretary Anil Sareen, Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha, BJP leader H.S. Phoolka, former minister Surjit Kumar Jiani, Rakesh Kumar Rathore, K.D. Bhandari, Punjab BJP Mahila Wing president Jaijinder Kaur, Amanjot Kaur Ramuwalia, former MLA Ashwani Shekhri, former MP Sushil Kumar Rinku, former minister Som Prakash, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and other party leaders.
The four yatras are scheduled to converge in Jalandhar on September 30, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to address the concluding rally.
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