Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday, 30 September pledged to rid Punjab of the illicit 'chitta' (synthetic drug) trade by 31 December 2029, declaring that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would contest the next state Assembly elections solely on the plank of a drug-free Punjab. The promise came at a large anti-drug rally in Jalandhar, marking the culmination of the party's 13-day 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra'.

The Rally and Its Context

Shah's address served as the closing event of the BJP's statewide yatra, which reportedly covered all 117 Assembly constituencies across approximately 4,000 km. The campaign was conducted under the slogan 'BJP da Naara, Nasha Mukauna Saara' and sought to mobilise public opinion against drug abuse, particularly among the youth. Before taking the stage, Shah met families affected by drug addiction and heard their accounts firsthand.

The rally comes well ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with the BJP seeking to establish the drug crisis as the defining political issue of the upcoming electoral cycle.

What Shah Said

Addressing the gathering in a nearly 20-minute speech in Hindi, Shah drew a sharp contrast between the BJP's anti-narcotics record and that of its rivals. He said: 'I have come today to tell the people of Punjab that there are several issues in the state's elections... issues concerning farmers, industry, law and order, and women's safety. But the Bharatiya Janata Party will contest the upcoming election solely on the issue of making Punjab drug-free.'

He cited federal seizure data to make his case: 'From 2004 to 2014, the Congress was in power; in those 10 years, 26 lakh kg of narcotics were seized nationwide. Then came Modi ji's government; between 2014 and 2024, PM Modi's government seized Rs 1.2 crore kg of drugs. The Congress had seized narcotics worth Rs 40,000 crore, but in contrast, the BJP seized drugs of Rs 1,90,000 crore.'

Shah also made an emotional appeal, recounting a conversation with a grieving mother at the pre-rally meeting: 'A mother, holding photographs of her two young sons in her lap, said, 'Stop this. I couldn't save mine, but save someone else's son.'

Attack on the AAP Government

Shah directed pointed criticism at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging that it had allowed the chitta trade to operate openly. He stated: 'Why has the need arisen today to make Punjab drug-free? Because the Aam Aadmi Party government has allowed the 'chitta' trade to operate openly.' He further argued that those who, in his characterisation, insult religious figures while under the influence of intoxicants are incapable of solving the drug crisis — a remark widely read as a dig at AAP leadership. The AAP government has not yet responded publicly to these specific allegations.

Punjab's Legacy and the Centre's Commitments

Shah acknowledged Punjab's twin contributions to the nation — agricultural output and border security — describing them as a matter of pride. 'Whenever the country needed food, Punjab's farmers filled our granaries and continue to do so even today,' he said, adding that Punjabis had made immense sacrifices both before and after Independence to protect India's borders.

On the policy front, Shah said the Centre would take concrete steps to disrupt the drug supply chain in Punjab and strengthen the capacity of central agencies to check cross-border smuggling — a significant commitment given that Punjab shares a border with Pakistan, a key transit route for synthetic drugs entering India.

What Comes Next

With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections on the horizon, the BJP's decision to anchor its entire campaign on the drug issue is a calculated political bet. The party currently sits in opposition in the state, where AAP swept to power in 2022 with a historic majority. Analysts will watch whether the drug narrative gains traction among voters — particularly the mothers and youth Shah specifically addressed — and whether the Centre follows through on its pledged crackdown on cross-border smuggling routes.