BJP chief Nitin Nabin alleges political patronage fuelling Punjab drug crisis
Synopsis
BJP national president Nitin Nabin has accused Punjab's political establishment of treating drug abuse as a 'business' rather than a crisis, alleging the menace has survived and grown under political protection. His Punjab visit, timed after a dawn temple stop in Ujjain, signals the BJP is preparing to make drug policy a major electoral flashpoint in the state.
Key Takeaways
BJP national president Nitin Nabin alleged on 18 September 2026 that Punjab's drug crisis has flourished under political patronage.
He claimed political parties raised the drug issue only for electoral gains and later 'treated it as a business' once in power.
Nabin departed from Ujjain for Punjab to join the BJP's anti-drug campaign and address affected youth.
He visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, spending around one-and-a-half hours in the Nandi Hall for the Bhasma Aarti — his first visit since becoming BJP national president.
Madhya Pradesh BJP president Hemant Khandelwal and MP Anil Firojiya accompanied him during the temple visit.
Nabin had attended an event in Ujjain on Thursday where 2.5 million earthen lamps were lit to mark PM Modi's birthday.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin on Friday, 18 September 2026, alleged that Punjab's drug menace has thrived under political protection, with the state's youth — particularly those from farming backgrounds — being the worst affected. Nabin made the remarks in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, before departing for Punjab to take part in the BJP's anti-drug campaign.
The Allegation
Nabin claimed that political parties in Punjab had repeatedly raised the drug abuse issue as an electoral tool, only to abandon it — or worse, exploit it — once in power. 'Today, I believe that political parties there also raised the issue of drug abuse only to gain power and, after coming to power, treated it as a business and made it a centre of their activities. These things continued under political protection,' the BJP chief said.
He argued that the younger generation, which emerged from hardworking farming families and contributed significantly to Punjab's identity, had been 'pushed towards drug addiction and deprived of its direction.' According to Nabin, youth who could have driven Punjab's development have instead fallen victim to substance abuse.
BJP's Anti-Drug Campaign in Punjab
Nabin's Punjab visit is part of the BJP's broader push to position drug abuse as a central social and political issue in the state. He is scheduled to address party workers and affected communities as part of the anti-drug programme. The BJP has been seeking to gain traction in Punjab, a state it has historically struggled to dominate electorally.
Notably, Punjab's drug crisis has been a flashpoint in state politics for years, with successive governments — across party lines — accused of inadequate action. Critics argue the problem has deep structural roots, including proximity to international smuggling routes and under-resourced law enforcement.
Temple Visit and Ujjain Engagements
Before leaving for Punjab, Nabin visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain early Friday morning, participating in the Bhasma Aarti and spending approximately one-and-a-half hours in the Nandi Hall witnessing the ritual. He later offered prayers at the temple threshold.
Madhya Pradesh BJP president Hemant Khandelwal and BJP Member of Parliament Anil Firojiya accompanied him during the visit. Nabin said this was his first Mahakal darshan after assuming the post of BJP national president and that he had prayed for the happiness, peace and good health of the people of the country.
Arrival in Madhya Pradesh
Nabin had arrived in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday to attend an event in Ujjain where 2.5 million earthen lamps were lit as part of celebrations marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. The event underscored the BJP's effort to combine cultural outreach with political messaging ahead of future electoral cycles.
His remarks on Punjab are expected to intensify the political debate around drug policy in the state, with the BJP signalling it intends to keep the issue in the national spotlight.
Point of View
No official, no case is named. That ambiguity is strategic: it lets the BJP attack the ruling Aam Aadmi Party implicitly while insulating the charge from rebuttal. Punjab's drug crisis is real and documented, but the BJP itself has governed the state and struggled with the same problem, a fact that weakens its moral high ground. The anti-drug campaign framing ahead of future elections follows a well-worn template: adopt a civic grievance, give it a political villain, and offer the party as the remedy. Whether Nabin's visits translate into durable voter trust in Punjab — where the BJP remains a secondary force — is the question mainstream coverage is not asking.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP president Nitin Nabin allege about Punjab's drug problem?
Nitin Nabin alleged on 18 September 2026 that Punjab's drug menace has thrived under political patronage, claiming political parties raised the issue only to win elections and then treated it as a business once in power. He said the state's youth, especially those from farming families, have been pushed into drug addiction as a result.
Why is Nabin visiting Punjab?
Nabin is travelling to Punjab to participate in the BJP's anti-drug campaign, where he is scheduled to address party workers and communities affected by substance abuse. The visit is part of the party's effort to highlight drug abuse as a key social and political issue in the state.
Which temple did Nabin visit before leaving for Punjab?
Nabin visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on the morning of 18 September 2026, participating in the Bhasma Aarti and spending around one-and-a-half hours in the Nandi Hall. He said it was his first Mahakal darshan since becoming BJP national president.
Who accompanied Nabin during his Ujjain visit?
Madhya Pradesh BJP president Hemant Khandelwal and BJP MP Anil Firojiya accompanied Nabin during his visit to the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain.
What event did Nabin attend in Ujjain on Thursday?
Nabin attended an event in Ujjain on Thursday where 2.5 million earthen lamps were lit as part of programmes organised to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday.
