Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to organise four 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras' across the state from 18 to 30 September 2026, aimed at building public awareness against drug abuse and mobilising a mass movement for a drug-free Punjab. A party delegation led by state President Kewal Singh Dhillon met the Director General of Police (DGP) on Monday to submit a formal memorandum seeking adequate security and traffic arrangements along all yatra routes.

Key Developments

The four yatras will commence from Sujanpur in Pathankot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, and Talwandi Sabo. On 18 September, BJP national President Nitin Nabin will flag off the yatra from Ekta Sthal in Sujanpur. Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Arjun Ram Meghwal, along with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other senior leaders, are scheduled to join the yatras at various stages. The concluding rally is slated for Jalandhar on 30 September, where a large turnout is expected.

What the BJP Told the DGP

Dhillon urged the police administration to ensure that no disruptive elements interfere with the yatras. He also called for traffic management plans to be prepared in advance, in coordination with district police, to minimise inconvenience to the public along the routes. The memorandum specifically sought security cover at the starting and concluding points of each yatra, given the anticipated participation of Union Ministers, senior party leadership, and large sections of the public.

BJP's Case Against the AAP Government

Dhillon argued that the drug menace has worsened under the current Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, which had come to power promising to eradicate drugs within three months. According to Dhillon, not only have drugs persisted, but they are now reportedly being delivered to homes across Punjab. He alleged the AAP government is attempting to suppress voices raised against the drug problem in order to conceal what the BJP describes as a governance failure. Critics from the ruling side are likely to contest this characterisation.

The Larger Context

Punjab's drug crisis has long been a defining political fault line in the state. Drug abuse is widely acknowledged to be linked to rising crime, gang culture, and extortion — a concern that cuts across party lines. This is not the first time the opposition has used an organised yatra to highlight the issue; similar campaigns have been mounted in previous electoral cycles. With Punjab's next assembly election on the horizon, the timing of these yatras carries an unmistakable political dimension, even as organisers frame them as a social movement. Dhillon maintained that the initiative is 'not merely a political programme, but an effort to build a mass movement to protect the youth and families of Punjab.'

What Happens Next

The four yatras are expected to cover significant ground across Punjab over a 12-day span, culminating in the Jalandhar rally on 30 September. The police response to the security memorandum and the scale of public participation in the concluding rally will be closely watched as indicators of the BJP's organisational strength ahead of the next electoral contest in the state.