Amit Shah burns 'Chitta' effigy in Ludhiana, vows drug-free Punjab by 2029
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah turned Vijayadashami into a political declaration — burning a 'Chitta' effigy in Ludhiana and setting a hard deadline of 31 December 2029 to rid Punjab of drugs. After meeting families of three men killed fighting the drug menace, he demanded CBI probes into two outstanding murders and warned that no one, however powerful, would be spared.
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah burned a symbolic 'Chitta' (drugs) effigy at Vijayadashami in Ludhiana on 20 October .
Shah announced a deadline of 31 December 2029 to make Punjab drug-free .
He met families at three locations whose sons were killed in the fight against drugs.
Shah urged the Punjab government to hand over two more murder investigations to the CBI , after one was already transferred.
He called on citizens to report drug activity on the NCB toll-free helpline , promising government action.
Ludhiana's Ramlila Committee has organised Ravana Dahan for 200 years , providing a historic backdrop for the event.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, 20 October participated in the Vijayadashami celebrations in Ludhiana, Punjab, where he performed the symbolic burning of a 'Chitta' (drugs) effigy — a pointed message against the drug menace devastating the state. The event, hosted by a Ramlila Committee with a 200-year-old tradition of Ravana Dahan in Ludhiana, gave Shah a powerful political platform to announce a deadline of 31 December 2029 to make Punjab drug-free.
The Symbolism Behind the 'Chitta' Effigy
In his address, Shah drew on the festival's spiritual significance to frame the anti-drug campaign. 'In our tradition, the burning of Ravana's effigy is a symbol of the victory of good over evil. Vijayadashami is the day for every person to eliminate the ego, pride, greed and other evils within themselves,' he said. By replacing the conventional Ravana effigy with one representing 'Chitta' — a street name for heroin widely consumed in Punjab — Shah cast the drug trade as the modern-day Ravana that must be vanquished.
Meetings With Families of Drug-Fight Victims
Before the event, Shah met families at three locations in Punjab who had lost sons in the fight against drugs. He described the experience as deeply distressing. 'The tears in the eyes of those relatives, their questions, and their pain are enough to shake anyone to the core,' he said. He paid tribute to the three individuals, saying there could be 'no greater tribute than freeing Punjab from the drug trade by 31 December 2029.'
CBI Demand and the Centre's Warning
On the political front, Shah noted that the Punjab government has already handed over the investigation of one murder — linked to the drug trade — to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He urged the state government to transfer the remaining two murder investigations to the CBI as well, expressing confidence that justice would be served. 'Once the investigation is handed over to the CBI, no matter how big a person is involved in these murders, the Narendra Modi government will track them down and put them behind bars,' he said. This comes amid persistent tensions between the Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government over drug enforcement accountability.
NCB Helpline and the 2029 Deadline
Shah urged citizens to report drug-trade activity on the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)'s toll-free helpline, pledging swift action. He drew a line of continuity with the Modi government's other promises: 'Article 370 and 35A are gone, terrorism is on the verge of being eliminated, and we have ended Naxalism — now we will also eliminate the drug trade.' The 2029 deadline is now a stated political commitment, setting a measurable benchmark against which the Centre's Punjab drug strategy will be judged in the years ahead.
Point of View
Not the AAP state government, is leading the moral and investigative battle. The 2029 deadline is now on record, which cuts both ways: it energises BJP's Punjab narrative ahead of assembly cycles, but it also creates an accountability clock. The CBI demand is equally pointed — by pressing for central agency oversight on drug-linked murders, Shah is implicitly questioning the AAP government's investigative will. Whether the NCB helpline translates to verifiable enforcement outcomes, or the 2029 pledge joins a list of unmet targets, will determine how this moment is remembered.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Amit Shah burn a 'Chitta' effigy instead of the traditional Ravana effigy at Vijayadashami?
Shah replaced the conventional Ravana effigy with one symbolising 'Chitta' — a term for heroin widely abused in Punjab — to send a pointed anti-drug message. The substitution framed the drug trade as the modern equivalent of evil that must be destroyed on Vijayadashami.
What is Amit Shah's deadline for making Punjab drug-free?
Shah announced on 20 October that Punjab would be made drug-free by 31 December 2029. He described this as the most fitting tribute to the three individuals who lost their lives fighting the drug trade.
What did Amit Shah say about CBI investigations into drug-linked murders in Punjab?
Shah noted that the Punjab government had transferred one murder investigation to the CBI and urged the state to hand over the remaining two cases as well. He said that once the CBI takes charge, no powerful individual involved would escape action under the Modi government.
How can citizens report drug activity in Punjab according to Amit Shah?
Shah urged Punjab residents to report drug trade information on the Narcotics Control Bureau's toll-free helpline, promising that the Modi government would act on every credible tip received.
What is the significance of Ludhiana's Vijayadashami event?
Ludhiana's Ramlila Committee has been organising the Ravana Dahan programme for approximately 200 years, making it one of Punjab's most prominent Vijayadashami events. Shah specifically cited this tradition, saying he had heard about its scale since childhood.
