Harsimrat Badal urges Punjab women to launch drug-free andolan in Amritsar
Synopsis
SAD's Harsimrat Kaur Badal took her anti-drug campaign to Amritsar, calling on women to launch an andolan modelled on the Kisan movement. Her claim that Punjab now ranks first in drug smuggling and second in overdose deaths — made while attacking both Congress and AAP — signals an escalating opposition push to own the drug narrative ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Key Takeaways
Harsimrat Kaur Badal addressed women's gatherings at Attari and Raja Sansi , Amritsar district , on 10 November .
She urged the Mai Bhago di Fauj to form jathas and launch thikri pehra patrols against drug traffickers.
She alleged Punjab ranks No.
1 in drug smuggling and No.
2 in drug overdose deaths nationally.
The AAP government was accused of promising ₹60,000 to women but disbursing only ₹3,000 .
Punjab reportedly dropped to 18th position in national education and health rankings under the current administration.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Tuesday, 10 November appealed to the Mai Bhago di Fauj — a women's volunteer wing — to launch a mass movement against drugs in Punjab, drawing inspiration from the Kisan Andolan. Addressing gatherings at Attari and Raja Sansi in Amritsar district, she asserted that 'only a large-scale sustained campaign by those who are most affected by this menace can eradicate it once and for all.'
The Call to Action
Harsimrat Badal urged women to form village-level 'jathas' (organised groups) and launch 'thikri pehra' — community night-watch patrols — to deny drug traffickers access to their villages. 'I appeal to you to start a mass movement against drugs by forming jathas to make these messengers of death aware that you are fully organised to take them on,' she said, addressing the assembled crowd.
Attacks on Congress and AAP Governments
The SAD leader launched a sharp attack on both the former Indian National Congress government and the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration in Punjab, alleging both had failed to curb the drug menace. She further accused the AAP government of betraying women by promising them ₹60,000 but disbursing only ₹3,000, saying: 'Is this satkar (respect) for women or an insult to them?'
Punjab's Alarming Drug Statistics
Harsimrat Badal cited figures that she claimed placed Punjab at number one in drug smuggling and number two in drug overdose deaths nationally. She further alleged that under the present administration, the state had fallen to the 18th position in education and health parameters. 'This is the reason why women are coming up to me everywhere and telling me they have no demand except ending the drug menace in the state,' she said.
Legacy of the Badal Government
Harsimrat Badal invoked the record of her late father-in-law, former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, citing his launch of the 'Shagun' scheme, distribution of cycles to girl students, and the 'aata-daal' scheme as examples of genuine welfare delivery. She contrasted these with what she called the AAP government's unfulfilled guarantees. 'All this and more was done without giving any guarantee,' she added.
What Comes Next
The appeal is part of a broader outreach by the Shiromani Akali Dal ahead of local and state political cycles, with the party seeking to consolidate its base among rural women in Punjab. Whether the call to form jathas translates into an organised grassroots campaign on the scale of the Kisan Andolan remains to be seen. Community responses and the AAP government's reply to these allegations are awaited.
Point of View
Agrarian constituency that made that movement impossible to ignore. The SAD is effectively trying to reposition itself as the party of Punjab's women at a time when both Congress and AAP are vulnerable on the drug issue. But the credibility gap is real: the SAD was in power in Punjab for a decade and drug trafficking flourished during those years too. The party's ability to lead a moral campaign against narcotics while that history remains unaddressed will face scrutiny. The ₹60,000 versus ₹3,000 charge is potent if verifiable — but without independent data, it functions as rhetoric. The more durable question is whether a jatha-and-thikri-pehra model can substitute for state enforcement — and whether that is a vision for governance or a campaign talking point.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Harsimrat Kaur Badal appeal for at Amritsar?
Harsimrat Kaur Badal appealed to women of the Mai Bhago di Fauj to launch a mass movement — an 'andolan' — against drugs in Punjab, modelled on the Kisan Andolan. She specifically called for forming village jathas and starting thikri pehra night-watch patrols to block drug traffickers.
What are Punjab's drug statistics cited by Harsimrat Badal?
According to Harsimrat Badal's remarks at the rally, Punjab ranks number one in drug smuggling and number two in drug overdose deaths nationally. She also alleged the state has dropped to 18th in education and health parameters under the current AAP government.
What is the AAP government accused of regarding women's welfare?
Harsimrat Badal accused the AAP government of promising women ₹60,000 but disbursing only ₹3,000, characterising it as an insult rather than respect. She contrasted this with welfare schemes launched under former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
What is the Mai Bhago di Fauj?
The Mai Bhago di Fauj is a women's volunteer wing associated with the Shiromani Akali Dal, named after the Sikh warrior Mai Bhago. It serves as an organisational base for the party's outreach among women in Punjab.
Why is the SAD focusing on the drug issue in Punjab now?
The SAD is seeking to consolidate its support base among rural women in Punjab by positioning itself as the leading opposition voice on the drug menace, a cause that resonates deeply with families affected by addiction. The campaign also allows the party to attack both Congress and AAP simultaneously ahead of future electoral cycles.
