Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Amit Shah Leads BJP Anti-Drug Yatra Culmination in Punjab Election
The BJP held a large campaign in Punjab about stopping drugs.
Amit Shah went to Jalandhar for the campaign’s final event.
The campaign travelled across all 117 Assembly constituencies in the state.
BJP leaders said many families were suffering because of drug addiction.
They also blamed the AAP government for problems involving drugs, jobs and safety.
AAP rejected the criticism and said it had increased action against drug traffickers.
The BJP also discussed student unrest at Lovely Professional University and called for an impartial investigation.
Police increased security after receiving a bomb-threat email, but no explosive had been officially found.
Amit Shah arrived in Jalandhar for the culmination of the BJP’s 13-day Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra.
The four yatras covered about 4,000 kilometres across all 117 Punjab Assembly constituencies from September 18.
BJP leaders accused the AAP government of failing to curb drug trafficking and criticized unemployment and law-and-order conditions.
The BJP linked ransom threats and business departures, including from Jalandhar’s sports-goods sector, to Punjab’s jobs problem.
Security was strengthened after a bomb-threat email mentioned the rally venue, Shri Devi Talab Mandir, schools and the court complex.
- Who
- Amit Shah, the BJP and its leaders; the AAP government was the target of the criticism.
- What
- The BJP concluded its statewide Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra with a Jalandhar programme and rally.
- When
- Wednesday; the 13-day campaign began on September 18, ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.
- Where
- Jalandhar, including Shri Devi Talab Mandir and a rally venue at Paragpur near the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway.
- Why
- The BJP sought to highlight drug abuse and criticize the AAP government over trafficking, unemployment and law and order.
BJP Criticism
AAP Response
Drug control
BJP Criticism
The BJP said the AAP government had failed to curb drug trafficking and made drug abuse a central issue for the 2027 election.
AAP Response
AAP rejected the BJP’s criticism and said its government had intensified enforcement against traffickers.
Jobs and investment
BJP Criticism
BJP leaders said ransom calls and extortion threats were driving industries away, worsening Punjab’s employment problem; they specifically cited the movement of some sports-goods businesses from Jalandhar to Meerut and elsewhere.
AAP Response
The article reports the BJP’s allegation but does not provide a specific AAP response on business departures or employment.
Lovely Professional University unrest
BJP Criticism
BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said students’ grievances should be addressed and called for an impartial investigation into possible external involvement in the violence.
AAP Response
The article does not state a separate response from AAP or the university regarding the unrest.
- Campaign duration
- 13 days
- Campaign start
- September 18
- Route coverage
- About 4,000 kilometres across all 117 Assembly constituencies
- Main speaker
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah
- Rally location
- Paragpur near the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway
- Election context
- Ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election
- Security alert
- A bomb-threat email mentioned the rally venue, Shri Devi Talab Mandir, schools and the court complex