Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday, 19 September 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging it had extended its anti-drug deadline six times since coming to power. Gupta made the remarks while flagging off the second edition of the 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra' — a 13-day campaign organised by the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit — from Fatehgarh Sahib.

The Anti-Drug Deadline Charge

Addressing a gathering at the event, Gupta said that when Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann came to power in Punjab, they had promised to eliminate drugs from the state within three months. According to her, the deadline was subsequently extended — first by three months, then by four months — and has now been pushed back a total of six times.

'A government that keeps giving new deadlines cannot be expected to eradicate drugs,' Gupta said while addressing the gathering. She framed the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra as both an anti-drug campaign and a political drive to unseat the AAP administration in the state.

Gupta's Broader Offensive Against Kejriwal

The Delhi Chief Minister said she had travelled from Delhi specifically to 'expose' AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, whom she described as the 'super CM' of Punjab. She alleged that Kejriwal and his associates had first 'captured Punjab with Delhi's money' and were now spending public funds from Punjab in other states for political gain.

Gupta also revived the 'Sheesh Mahal' controversy, claiming that after losing power in Delhi, Kejriwal had effectively relocated to what she termed a 'Sheesh Mahal II' in Punjab. She questioned under what authority he was residing in the state and travelling in private jets.

On the state's finances, Gupta pointed to an alleged debt of ₹5 lakh crore on Punjab, asking who would repay it. She claimed Punjabis had been 'misled in the name of the so-called Delhi model' and that the state had been 'pushed deeper into debt' as a result.

Attacks on CM Bhagwant Mann

Gupta also directed criticism at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging that whenever the state faced a crisis, Mann was 'intoxicated with alcohol' — a claim that has not been independently verified. She further alleged that when floods hit Punjab, Kejriwal 'ran back to Delhi' rather than staying to manage the situation.

'Those who were responsible for the misgovernance of Delhi are now sitting in Punjab and have been exploiting the state for the last five years,' she said.

Yatra Launch and Key Attendees

Before the flag-off, Gupta paid obeisance at a historic gurdwara in Fatehgarh Sahib — sacred ground associated with the martyrdom of the younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh. The yatra was launched from the local grain market in the presence of Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon, State Party In-charge Satish Poonia, and National BJP Vice-President Manpreet Singh Badal.

Gupta also invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying their efforts in tackling terrorism and security challenges meant the people of Punjab were 'not alone in the fight against drugs.' She characterised the yatra as 'not merely a political programme but a call for collective action.'

What Comes Next

The 13-day yatra is expected to traverse multiple districts of Punjab, building BJP's anti-AAP narrative ahead of the next state election cycle. The AAP government in Punjab has not yet publicly responded to Gupta's specific allegations. With drug abuse remaining a deeply sensitive issue in the state, the political battle over the issue is set to intensify.