Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney on Saturday, 19 September 2026, issued a stark warning that Punjab cannot afford to lose another generation to drugs, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formally launched the 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra' — a statewide campaign that will cover all 117 constituencies of Punjab until 30 September.

The Scale of Punjab's Drug Crisis

Sahney cited the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment's report titled Drug Abuse among Young Persons: Problems and Solutions, which estimated that around 66 lakh people in Punjab are affected by substance use. Of these, 6.97 lakh are children between the ages of 10 and 17 years. Separately, research from PGIMER, reported in April 2026, estimated over 30 lakh drug users currently in the state.

'Nearly seven lakh children caught in the grip of drugs is not just a statistic; it is a tragedy for Punjab's families and a warning for our future. The fight against drugs must rise above politics and become a collective mission for Punjab,' Sahney said.

AAP Government Under Fire: What the Numbers Show

Sahney trained his criticism on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, arguing that repeated deadlines to eradicate drugs have yielded little. Government data, he pointed out, shows admissions to de-addiction centres surging from 9,577 in 2024 to 25,290 in 2025 — a near-164% rise in a single year. Enforcement data presents a mixed picture: agencies have seized over 8.7 crore tablets and capsules since 2022, yet crystal methamphetamine seizures climbed from 17 kg during the 2017–21 period to 93 kg since 2022, suggesting that supply chains have grown more potent even as enforcement intensifies.

'Punjab needs results, not another deadline. The numbers tell us this crisis requires sustained action on both supply and demand, alongside rehabilitation and reintegration,' Sahney said.

The Yatra: Ground-Level Outreach and Rehabilitation

The Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra is designed to take the anti-drug message directly to communities — villages and mohallas — rather than relying on institutional channels. Sahney said 19 government de-addiction and rehabilitation centres have been adopted to support infrastructure upgrades, counselling, skill development, gyms, yoga, and meditation programmes. Over the past year, 1,000 young people were reportedly placed in jobs through associated outreach, and a further 250 were supported towards self-employment. 'Recovery must lead to reintegration, not relapse,' he said.

Call for a Joint Centre-State Anti-Drug Task Force

Sahney proposed a joint anti-drug task force combining the Border Security Force (BSF), the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), central intelligence agencies, and Punjab Police, underpinned by integrated intelligence sharing and clear accountability mechanisms. He argued that the drug trade, which operates through drones, courier networks, and international syndicates, cannot be countered by any single government or agency alone. 'The drug trade does not respect state boundaries. It operates across borders, through drones, courier networks, and international syndicates. No single government or agency can defeat it alone. Punjab needs the Centre and the state to work as one team,' he said.

The yatra concludes on 30 September, after which BJP is expected to escalate political pressure on the AAP government ahead of the next assembly election cycle.