Moga, March 14 (NationPress) Kicking off the election campaign in Punjab ahead of the Assembly polls next year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah remarked on Saturday that the current Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration has led to a troubling rise in religious conversions.

"A government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab will introduce a significant Bill aimed at prohibiting religious conversions," he stated to a large assembly in Moga, a crucial area in the Malwa region, which holds 69 of the 117 Assembly seats.

Emphasizing that the BJP will no longer take a backseat in Punjab politics, Shah declared, "In the past, when we approached you (the people of Punjab), we were merely junior partners. Today marks the start of our campaign to establish our own government in Punjab."

Wearing a Sikh turban, Shah vowed that a BJP government would work to eradicate drug abuse in Punjab within two years.

He criticized the AAP government, stating that it has turned into an 'ATM' for its leader Arvind Kejriwal, saying, "The AAP came into power with promises of change. However, the Chief Minister's actions indicate otherwise, as he is merely serving as Kejriwal's pilot, squandering state resources on his travels across India without achieving anything meaningful."

"The AAP government committed to creating 25 lakh jobs, eliminating the drug crisis in four months, establishing 16,000 government medicine stores, raising widow and old-age pensions to Rs 2,500 monthly, setting up 16 medical colleges, boosting mining revenue by Rs 20,000 crore, ensuring minimum support price (MSP) on all crops, and providing Rs 5 lakh compensation to victims of the Sikh riots," Shah continued, adding, "None of these promises have been fulfilled."

He described the AAP administration as a government riddled with unfulfilled promises and corruption, stating, "They are deeply entrenched in corruption and unable to serve the interests of Punjab. The Chief Minister should be embarrassed by his inaction regarding the exploitation of Punjab's resources by leaders in Delhi."

Taking a dig at the Punjab government led by Bhagwant Mann, Shah remarked, "The AAP administration has become an ATM for Kejriwal, which is an affront to Punjab's dignity. The state is grappling with a severe drug issue; law and order has deteriorated, with three village heads murdered at the start of 2026; gangsters are extorting money, and an ASI was killed in a police station."

Citing a report, the Union Home Minister noted that 45 percent of India's heroin trade occurs solely in Punjab.

"We (BJP) assure you that if you support us in the forthcoming elections, we will liberate Punjab from the drug menace within two years," he promised.

Shah also criticized the AAP, Congress, and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi for misleading farmers about the recent trade agreement with the US, stating, "They claim the deal harms farmers, which is a blatant lie. It was the UPA that agreed to cease MSP payments to farmers back in 2013."

"Under the Modi administration, we have made the highest purchases at MSP from Punjab's farmers. Furthermore, funds reach farmers' bank accounts within just two days," he added.

Shah revealed that during the UPA's tenure, India's agriculture budget was Rs 22,000 crore, but the Modi government has increased it to Rs 140,000 crore. He mentioned that every farmer receives Rs 6,000 annually, benefiting 13.5 crore individuals under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.

"While the Congress never procured pulses at MSP, we (BJP) ensured the complete purchase of pulses at MSP through NAFED. We are also purchasing maize at MSP," Shah stated.

Concluding his address, he asserted, "Punjab needs a Chief Minister who can provide effective governance, not just someone who can entertain the public."