Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Amit Shah Promises Drug-Free Punjab by December 31, 2029
Amit Shah held a large anti-drug rally in Jalandhar, Punjab.
He promised that Punjab would have no illegal “chitta” trade by December 31, 2029, if the BJP wins the election.
He said the BJP would make fighting drugs its main election promise.
Shah blamed the AAP government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for allowing the drug trade to continue.
He also promised that drug sellers would be identified and jailed.
The BJP said its campaign traveled across Punjab to raise awareness about drugs.
Shah met families who had lost relatives to addiction.
AAP criticized Shah by pointing to a large drug seizure linked to an operation in Gujarat.
Amit Shah promised that Punjab would be free of the illicit “chitta” trade by December 31, 2029, if the BJP wins power.
Shah said the BJP would make a drug-free Punjab its central issue in the 2027 Assembly election.
He accused the Aam Aadmi Party government, led by Bhagwant Mann, of allowing the drug trade to operate openly.
The promise came at the conclusion of the BJP’s 13-day Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, which began September 18 and covered Punjab’s 117 Assembly constituencies.
AAP responded by pointing to the seizure of 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine in an operation involving the Gujarat ATS and Indian Coast Guard, urging Shah to begin his campaign in Gujarat.
- Who
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Bharatiya Janata Party addressed the rally; the Aam Aadmi Party responded to Shah’s allegations.
- What
- Shah promised to eliminate Punjab’s illicit “chitta” trade by December 31, 2029, if the BJP is elected.
- When
- The rally was held on a Wednesday, at the conclusion of a yatra that began September 18; reports identify the next major Assembly election as 2027, while one report describes it as due early the following year.
- Where
- Paragpur in Jalandhar district, Punjab; Shah also visited the Shree Devi Talab temple in Jalandhar.
- Why
- The BJP said the yatra and rally were intended to raise awareness about drug abuse, mobilize public support and make a drug-free Punjab its main election issue.
BJP and Amit Shah’s position
AAP’s position
Responsibility for the drug problem
BJP and Amit Shah’s position
Shah alleged that the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government allowed the “chitta” trade to operate openly and said only the BJP could make Punjab drug-free.
AAP’s position
AAP rejected Shah’s framing and pointed to a major seizure involving Gujarat agencies, saying Gujarat had become a significant gateway for drugs and that Shah should begin his anti-drug campaign there.
Election priority
BJP and Amit Shah’s position
The BJP said it would fight the Punjab Assembly election primarily or solely on the promise of a drug-free Punjab.
AAP’s position
The reports do not state AAP’s election position on making drugs the central campaign issue.
Government performance and enforcement
BJP and Amit Shah’s position
Shah accused the Punjab government of institutional inaction, including allegedly holding no Narco Coordination Centre meetings for three years, and promised stronger action against suppliers and smugglers.
AAP’s position
AAP’s reported response focused on the Gujarat-linked seizure and did not directly address the allegations about coordination meetings, advertising spending or other issues raised by Shah.
- Promise deadline
- December 31, 2029
- Rally location
- Paragpur, Jalandhar district, Punjab
- Election focus
- The BJP said it would campaign primarily or solely on a drug-free Punjab
- BJP campaign
- The 13-day Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra began September 18 and covered all 117 Assembly constituencies
- Shah’s enforcement promise
- Drug sellers would be identified and jailed, while efforts would target supply chains and cross-border smuggling
- AAP response
- AAP cited the seizure of 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth more than Rs 3,000 crore in an operation involving the Gujarat ATS and Indian Coast Guard
- Other allegations
- Shah alleged that Punjab spends about Rs 785 crore annually on advertisements and had not held a Narco Coordination Centre meeting in three years
Sources
Punjab will be ‘chitta-mukt (drug-free)’ by December 31, 2029: Amit Shah
Will make Punjab free of ‘chitta’ by December 2029, says Amit Shah at Jalandhar rally
Drug-Free Punjab By 2029-End: Amit Shah's Big Promise Ahead Of Polls
Give BJP a chance, will wipe out drug menace from Punjab by December 31, 2029: Amit Shah
