Punjab drug crisis: BJP chief Nitin Nabin demands action after two killings
Synopsis
Two killings in two days — anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa and Bikramjit Singh in Gurdaspur — have triggered a coordinated political offensive by the BJP. Both the party chief and the Home Minister posted on X the same day, with the Home Ministry now set to formally seek answers from the Bhagwant Mann government.
Key Takeaways
BJP President Nitin Nabin on 16 October 2026 called for 'decisive action' against Punjab's drug mafia after two killings in two days.
Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was allegedly murdered in Mansa by a medical store owner; Bikramjit Singh , 40, was killed in Gurdaspur .
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also posted on X , questioning the Bhagwant Mann -led AAP government over safety in the state.
The Home Ministry has announced it will seek formal responses from the Punjab government on both incidents.
Parvinder's father has reportedly levelled 'grave allegations' against the AAP government and one of its MLAs.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin on Friday, 16 October 2026, called for 'decisive action' against the drug mafia in Punjab, citing the killing of 40-year-old Bikramjit Singh in Gurdaspur — coming just two days after anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was allegedly murdered in Mansa district. Nabin said the back-to-back killings exposed a 'collapse of law and order' under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state.
What Nabin Said
In a post on social media platform X, the BJP president wrote: 'Punjab's drug crisis has reached an alarming level. The killing of 40-year-old Bikramjit Singh in Gurdaspur, just two days after anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was killed in Mansa, raises serious questions about the collapse of law and order under the AAP government.'
Nabin also questioned how citizens fighting drugs could be safe when activists were being killed in broad daylight. 'The people of Punjab deserve accountability and a government that can keep them safe,' he added.
Shah Joins the Offensive
Earlier on Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also posted on X in Hindi, raising concerns about the alleged rise in drug trafficking, gangsterism, and organised crime in Punjab. Shah specifically cited two incidents — a father allegedly driven to consume poison under pressure in Dirba, and the murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa.
'Punjab is today grappling with the rising threats of drugs, gangsterism, and organised crime. The biggest question before the Bhagwant Mann government is: who will ultimately take responsibility for the safety of Punjab's people,' Shah said.
The Home Minister also confirmed that the Home Ministry would formally seek responses from the Punjab government on both incidents. He noted that Parvinder's father had levelled 'grave allegations' against the AAP government and one of its legislators.
Background: A Pattern of Violence
The twin incidents have intensified scrutiny of Punjab's law-and-order situation, which has been a recurring political flashpoint. Mansa district, located in the Malwa belt, has long been considered among the regions worst affected by drug abuse in the state. The killing of an anti-drug activist by a medical store owner — as reported — adds a layer of institutional failure to what critics argue is a systemic problem.
Notably, this is not the first time the BJP-led Centre has flagged Punjab's drug crisis under the AAP dispensation. However, the coordinated statements on a single day from both the party president and the Home Minister signal an escalation in political pressure ahead of potential electoral cycles.
What Happens Next
The Home Ministry's formal notice to the Punjab government is expected to compel a response from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Civil society groups and opposition parties are likely to mount further pressure. Whether the Centre moves beyond political statements toward invoking constitutional mechanisms will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
But stops well short of any constitutional intervention. What is missing from the BJP's framing is any acknowledgment of the Centre's own tools — the Narcotics Control Bureau, the BSF's border management role — and whether those have been fully deployed. Accountability for Punjab's drug crisis does not begin or end with the state government alone.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the BJP raising Punjab's drug crisis now?
BJP President Nitin Nabin and Home Minister Amit Shah both cited two consecutive killings — anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa and Bikramjit Singh in Gurdaspur — as evidence of a law-and-order collapse under the AAP government. Both leaders posted on X on 16 October 2026, with the Home Ministry also announcing it would seek formal responses from the Punjab government.
Who was Parvinder Singh Jhota?
Parvinder Singh Jhota was an anti-drug activist who was allegedly murdered in Punjab's Mansa district by a medical store owner. His killing drew sharp political reactions, and his father has reportedly levelled grave allegations against the AAP government and one of its MLAs.
What has the Home Ministry said it will do?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Home Ministry will formally seek responses from the Punjab government on the incidents in Mansa and Dirba. The Dirba incident involved a father who allegedly consumed poison under pressure, while the Mansa incident was the killing of activist Parvinder Singh Jhota.
What is the AAP government's position?
The article does not include a formal response from the Aam Aadmi Party or Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to the BJP's allegations. The Home Ministry's formal notice is expected to compel a government response in the coming days.
