Shivraj Chouhan in Bathinda: BJP Will Dismantle Punjab Drug Network Within Six Months If Voted to Power

September 21, 2026

Bathinda: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday launched the fourth phase of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Nasha-Mukt Punjab Yatra from Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda and stepped up the party’s attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over the issue of drug abuse in Punjab.

Chouhan said that if the BJP comes to power in Punjab, the party would dismantle the entire drug network within six months. He said action would be taken against the drug supply chain, the network involved in the trade and the assets of alleged drug smugglers.

Chouhan Targets AAP Over Three-Month Drug-Free Deadline

Chouhan said he had come to Punjab with a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Targeting the AAP government, he said that before coming to power, the party had promised to eliminate the drug menace within three months, but the deadline had repeatedly passed.

Naming Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, Chouhan questioned who was allegedly protecting drug peddlers in Punjab and under whose protection they were operating.

He said saving Punjab from drugs was the BJP’s resolve and added that he would continue visiting the state to support the campaign against drug abuse.

“Punjab must be saved and must be made drug-free. For this, I will keep coming to Punjab,” Chouhan said.

Chouhan Visits Takht Sri Damdama Sahib

Before joining the Yatra, Chouhan paid obeisance at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, which is also known as Guru Ki Kashi and is one of the five Sikh Takhts.

Describing the place as a land of heroes and warriors, Chouhan said he was deeply concerned about the spread of drugs in Punjab. He said the state needed to follow the path shown by the Sikh Gurus and stand up against the drug menace.

Chouhan said he was visiting the sacred place for the first time and spoke about the pain of families who have lost loved ones to drug abuse.

Addressing Punjab’s youth, he called for collective action against drug peddlers and said a strong public movement against drugs should emerge in the state.

‘Drug-Free Punjab’ Yatra To Cover 117 Assembly Constituencies

During the campaign, Chouhan met families affected by drug abuse and heard about the difficulties they had faced because of addiction and the loss of family members.

He said the drug problem was not merely a law-and-order issue but also a serious social concern affecting Punjab’s families and youth.

Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon also interacted with villagers, who raised concerns over the alleged sale and smuggling of drugs.

The BJP launched its four-phase Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra on September 18. The party has said the campaign will cover all 117 Assembly constituencies with the aim of creating public awareness and encouraging community participation in the fight against drug abuse.

The Yatra is scheduled to conclude in Jalandhar on September 30.

Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh and other BJP leaders accompanied Chouhan during the Talwandi Sabo programme.

Chouhan later addressed a public meeting at Maisarkhana, where he reiterated the BJP’s pledge to fight the drug menace and called upon Punjab’s youth to participate in the campaign.