Bathinda, September 21, 2026 ; Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the BJP would dismantle Punjab’s entire drug network within six months if voted to power in the state, while sharply criticising the AAP government over its handling of the drug menace.
Chouhan made the remarks at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda, where he launched the BJP’s fourth statewide ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’. He also met families affected by drug abuse and offered prayers at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib along with other BJP leaders.
Chouhan Targets Bhagwant Mann Government
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan alleged that the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government had failed to meet its earlier deadlines for tackling drugs in Punjab.
He questioned the state government’s record and alleged that drug dealers continued to operate under political protection. These were Chouhan’s allegations; the report does not establish them as fact.
Chouhan also described the state government as one of “crime, corruption and commission”, while AAP has its own political response to the drug issue.
Six-Month Pledge
Chouhan said that if the BJP forms the government, it would target the entire drug supply chain.
“After coming to power, the BJP will destroy and eliminate the entire drug network within six months. This is our resolve.”
He said the proposed campaign would focus on identifying drug networks, disrupting supply channels and taking action against alleged drug traders.
Chouhan Cites Madhya Pradesh Experience
The Union minister referred to his tenure as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, saying his government had taken action against dacoity and claiming that the problem was eliminated within six months through killings, surrenders and criminals leaving the state.
He also cited action against organised crime and Naxalism while presenting his argument for a tougher approach to Punjab’s drug problem.
BJP’s Statewide Campaign
The Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra is part of the BJP’s statewide campaign focusing on the drug issue, with the party planning programmes across Punjab’s 117 Assembly constituencies. The campaign is scheduled to conclude in Jalandhar on September 30, according to reports.
The BJP has made the drug issue a prominent part of its political campaign ahead of the expected 2027 Punjab Assembly election.
Political Battle Over Drug Policy Intensifies
The remarks come amid competing political claims over how Punjab should tackle drug trafficking and addiction.
While Chouhan has presented the BJP’s six-month pledge as a political commitment, the claim that an entire drug network can be dismantled within a specific six-month period is a future political promise rather than an established outcome.
The drug issue is therefore emerging as a major campaign theme, with political parties presenting different approaches to enforcement, prevention and rehabilitation.
