- Amit Shah said the BJP would aim to make Punjab drug-free by December 31, 2029, if voted to power.
- The statement came at the conclusion of the BJP’s 13-day Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra in Jalandhar.
- Shah accused the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government of failing to control the drug trade, while AAP has rejected the allegations.
Jalandhar:Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the BJP would work to make Punjab drug-free by December 31, 2029, if the party is voted to power in the 2027 Assembly election.
Shah made the statement at a rally in Jalandhar marking the conclusion of the BJP’s 13-day Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra. The campaign, which began on September 18, covered around 4,000 km across all 117 Assembly constituencies.
The drug issue has emerged as a major political theme in Punjab ahead of the 2027 election, with the BJP, AAP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal taking different positions on the causes and handling of the state’s drug problem.
Amit Shah Sets 2029 Deadline for Drug-Free Punjab
Addressing the gathering, Shah said the BJP would focus on tackling the supply of narcotics and identifying those involved in the drug trade if it forms the government in Punjab.
He specifically referred to “chitta”, a term commonly used in Punjab for illicit drugs including heroin and synthetic narcotics, and told families affected by drug addiction that his party would target those involved in supplying such substances.
The pledge is also linked to the broader national Nasha Mukt Bharat 2029 roadmap. The Union government has set December 31, 2029, as a target for uprooting the drug trade in India and has outlined a 2026-29 strategy covering enforcement, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and coordination with states.
BJP and AAP Differ Over Punjab’s Drug Problem
Shah accused the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government of failing to curb the drug trade in Punjab. These are political allegations, and the AAP government has rejected the BJP’s criticism.
AAP leaders have argued that the state government has taken action against narcotics and have also questioned the role of the BJP-led central government in preventing drugs from entering Punjab.
The two sides have continued to exchange allegations over responsibility for the state’s drug problem. The BJP’s campaign has made the issue a prominent part of its political outreach ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.
Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra Covers 117 Constituencies
The BJP’s anti-drug campaign was conducted through four simultaneous routes beginning from Madhopur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka and Talwandi Sabo.
The four campaigns converged in Jalandhar for Wednesday’s concluding rally addressed by Shah. The campaign covered nearly 4,000 km and all 117 Assembly constituencies in the state.
The BJP had also brought families affected by drug addiction into its campaign events, with participants sharing their experiences of loss and the impact of substance abuse on families.
Security Tightened Around Jalandhar Rally
Security arrangements were strengthened around the rally after police received an email threat before the event.
According to the police account provided, the email claimed that an improvised explosive device had been planted beneath the rally stage and also contained threats involving schools, the Shri Devi Talab Mandir and buses.
Security agencies searched the area, and no explosive device was found, according to the police. The origin of the threat remained under investigation.
Drug Issue Takes Centre Stage Ahead of 2027 Polls
Shah also raised issues related to employment, healthcare, medical colleges, mining revenue, agriculture and government expenditure during his Jalandhar address.
The BJP’s latest campaign comes as Punjab’s political parties prepare for the 2027 Assembly election, with the drug issue increasingly featuring in their public campaigns and competing claims over responsibility for the situation.
Shah’s Jalandhar rally marked the conclusion of the BJP’s Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra and placed the party’s pledge to tackle narcotics at the centre of its campaign messaging in the state.
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