Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, urged the party's women's wing, Maavan Dheeyan Di Fauj, to revive the traditional practice of 'thikri pehra' — community night patrols — across every village and mohalla in Punjab to counter the state's deepening drug trafficking crisis. Speaking at a Maavan Dheeyan Di rally in Kharar town, near Chandigarh, she called on women to become the first line of defence against the drug menace.

The Call to Action

Badal framed the anti-drug campaign as a deeply personal struggle for Punjab's women, who she said had borne the greatest burden of the crisis as families were torn apart by addiction and trafficking. 'For the women of Punjab, ending the scourge of drugs is their number one priority,' she told the gathering, adding that SAD had deliberately launched a women-led campaign because women had suffered the most from the menace.

She urged those present to identify individuals allegedly involved in selling drugs as well as those suspected of shielding traffickers, arguing that community vigilance and collective action were essential to exposing the trade and holding the responsible parties accountable.

SAD's Policy Promises for 2027

Badal outlined a set of legislative and administrative commitments that SAD would pursue if voted to power in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. These include the establishment of a special task force headed by a woman Director General of Police specifically mandated to tackle the drug mafia. She also proposed stricter bail conditions — including a 10-year denial of bail to convicted drug traffickers — and the confiscation of their properties, with proceeds earmarked to compensate victims of the drug trade.

Allegations Against the AAP Government

Badal levelled a series of allegations against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, accusing it of failing to curb trafficking and of intimidating those who speak out. She referred to the reported removal of Daljit Singh's body by police while his mortal remains were being taken to a protest site, alleging that family members were assaulted when they attempted to stop the police — a charge that the government has not publicly addressed.

She linked this incident to the ongoing struggle for justice by the family of Parvinder Singh Jhota, described as an anti-drug campaigner. Badal also raised the reported detention of a CISF constable who had allegedly raised concerns about drug use at Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, arguing such cases risk discouraging whistleblowers from coming forward.

Criticising Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for allegedly refusing to meet Jhota's family, she claimed the government had failed to demonstrate the urgency the situation demands. She further cited the cases of Mohanjit Singh — who she alleged was tortured after protesting against the drug trade — and Gulzar Singh of Dirba, who she said died by suicide after being harassed for questioning the alleged sale of 'chitta', a colloquial term for heroin.

Broader Context

Punjab's drug crisis has remained a flashpoint in state politics for over a decade, with successive governments — the Congress, the SAD-BJP alliance, and now AAP — all facing criticism for their handling of the issue. This is not the first time opposition parties have sought to mobilise grassroots community structures like thikri pehra, which have historically been used in rural Punjab for security and social vigilance. Notably, the AAP government came to power in 2022 partly on a promise to eliminate the drug trade, making Badal's allegations politically pointed ahead of the 2027 election cycle.

What Comes Next

SAD's Maavan Dheeyan Di Fauj campaign is expected to extend its mobilisation drive to other districts across Punjab in the coming weeks. Whether community patrols materialise at scale will depend on the party's organisational strength at the village level. The political temperature around the drug issue is likely to rise further as the 2027 election date approaches.