Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Sunday, 2 August praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyaan' as a landmark national initiative, calling it a decisive step toward shielding India's youth from the grip of substance abuse and building the foundation of a stronger, more prosperous nation.

Dhillon on the Campaign's Significance

Dhillon underscored that the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' — a developed India — can only be achieved when the country's youth are physically healthy, mentally resilient, and grounded in strong values. He credited Modi with consistently demonstrating commitment to protecting the younger generation from drug addiction, describing the campaign as one with the potential to inspire millions of young Indians to reject substance abuse and channel their energy into nation-building.

Sharp Attack on AAP Government in Punjab

Expressing concern over the drug situation in Punjab, Dhillon trained his fire on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government, alleging it had failed to honour its pre-election promise of eradicating the drug menace within three months of assuming office. He claimed that despite being in power for more than four-and-a-half years, the state government has not effectively tackled the problem.

'While the Narendra Modi-led Central government is taking concrete and sustained measures to combat drug abuse, the AAP government in Punjab is merely engaging in publicity campaigns and presenting misleading claims instead of delivering tangible results,' Dhillon said in a statement. He further alleged that the drug network has continued to expand, devastating families and jeopardising the future of Punjab's youth.

Rajya Sabha MP Sahney Pledges Five Lakh Youth Drive

Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahney, through his NGO Sun Foundation, connected 5,000 youth virtually from Delhi and various skill and rehabilitation centres across Punjab with the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyaan'. Sahney announced plans to launch a dedicated anti-drug campaign in Punjab under the leadership of PM Modi, with a target of having five lakh youth from the state take a formal pledge against drugs.

He noted that his NGO currently operates 12 drug rehabilitation centres in Punjab, where individuals recovering from addiction undergo holistic transformation through yoga, meditation, gym activities, sports, and livelihood skilling programmes.

What This Means for Punjab's Drug Crisis

Punjab has long been at the centre of India's drug abuse debate, with successive governments facing scrutiny over the scale of the problem. The BJP's framing of 'Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyaan' as a Centre-led corrective to state-level failure signals that the issue will remain a political flashpoint ahead of future electoral cycles. Whether the campaign translates into measurable outcomes on the ground — in terms of rehabilitation, enforcement, and community outreach — will determine its lasting impact.