The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra reached Lohgarh Sahib in the Amritsar Central Assembly constituency on Thursday, 24 September 2026, drawing strong youth participation in a campaign aimed at building a drug-free Punjab. The march subsequently moved from Lahori Gate to Hall Gate, where it was met by a large gathering, underscoring what organisers described as growing public resolve against the drug menace.

Youth Take Centre Stage at Lohgarh Sahib

Young participants at Lohgarh Sahib wore yellow turbans inspired by freedom fighter Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and publicly pledged to stay away from drugs. BJP MP Tarun Chugh, addressing the gathering, said the sight was a symbol of the Punjab the party seeks to build. 'The hand that should hold a kabaddi trophy cannot be holding a syringe,' he said, drawing applause from the crowd.

Chugh described Punjab as 'the land of the Gurus, service, sacrifice, valour, hard work and patriotism,' adding that 'drugs are neither Punjab's identity nor its culture or tradition. Drugs are an attack on Punjab, and the people must come together for a decisive fight against this menace.'

Four Simultaneous Yatras Across Punjab

The campaign was launched simultaneously from four locations across the state. BJP President Nitin Nabin flagged off the yatra from Pathankot. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched a parallel march from Fatehgarh Sahib, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal from Fazilka, and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda. Under the state-level leadership of BJP State President Kewal Singh Dhillon, the four yatras are travelling through cities, villages, streets and settlements, seeking to convert public awareness into a mass movement.

BJP's Five-Point Anti-Drug Resolve

Chugh outlined a five-point resolve the BJP is championing through this campaign: a crackdown on drug traffickers and their networks; dismantling of the supply chain; action against drug money and related assets; treatment and rehabilitation for youth trapped in addiction; and active participation of parents, teachers, religious institutions, doctors, sportspersons and social organisations.

He invoked the case of Manjit Kaur from Sultanpur Lodhi, who reportedly lost all five of her sons to drugs, as a testament to the devastating toll the crisis has taken on families across the state. Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Chugh noted that 106 drug overdose deaths were recorded in Punjab in 2024. 'Punjab must now move from counting numbers to changing them,' he said.

Sharp Attack on the Bhagwant Mann Government

Chugh directly targeted the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, saying the state 'has heard enough deadlines, announcements and slogans.' He added: 'Mothers are still asking when their children will be saved. Governments run on results, not speeches, posters or deadlines. Punjab now needs action.'

Drawing a parallel with the BJP's handling of terrorism and Left Wing Extremism, Chugh said the same political resolve would now be directed at the campaign for a drug-free Punjab. Notably, the BJP has been sharpening its anti-drug pitch ahead of the Punjab assembly cycle, seeking to reclaim ground in a state where it has struggled electorally against the AAP.

What Comes Next

The four yatras are continuing their outreach across Punjab's districts, with the BJP indicating the campaign will build towards a formal policy agenda ahead of the next state election. Whether the street-level momentum translates into electoral traction will depend significantly on how the ruling AAP government responds to the political pressure — and whether its own anti-drug initiatives show measurable results in the interim.