Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Punjab on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, to meet the families of three individuals whose deaths have drawn national attention to the state's drug menace and gangster violence. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) framed the visit as a direct blow to what it described as organised criminal networks operating under what it termed 'mafia raj' in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-governed state.

BJP's Political Offensive

BJP Rajya Sabha member Tarun Chugh described the visit as an act of solidarity with grieving families and a signal to criminal networks. 'Amit Shah's visit today is a blow to the mafia bosses. It is aimed at meeting the mothers, sisters and fathers who have lost their sons, children and husbands while fighting gangsters and drugs to save other people's children from addiction. There is a deeply tragic atmosphere and a sense of fear in Punjab. Today's visit aims to pull Punjab out of this atmosphere of fear, gangster rule and mafia influence,' Chugh said.

Chugh further alleged that the criminal network extended from Chandigarh's upscale localities to so-called 'studios' allegedly operating from inside state prisons, where, he claimed, interviews with incarcerated gangsters were being arranged — a charge he said raised serious questions about alleged institutional protection afforded to organised crime.

CBI Probe Demand and AAP's Response

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that pressure from the Centre had compelled the Punjab government to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) enquiry within hours. 'Now, when he saw that pressure from the Central Government had increased, he had to order a CBI enquiry within an hour. It will not stop at a CBI enquiry; justice will be delivered. As the Union Home Minister said, justice will be delivered to the Jhota family,' Sirsa said.

Sirsa further alleged — without providing documentary evidence — that drug trafficking in Punjab had continued 'allegedly under the patronage of Bhagwant Mann and Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav.' He called for the resignation of both Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav, claims the AAP government has not yet publicly responded to.

Broader BJP Narrative on Drug Trafficking

BJP national spokesperson Tuhin Sinha connected Shah's visit to a wider party commitment to eradicate drug-linked criminal networks across India. Drawing a symbolic parallel with Dussehra festivities, Sinha said: 'Along with the Ravan Dahan today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved that the mafia of drug traffickers will also be eradicated from the entire country.'

Notably, the visit comes amid a broader political contest for Punjab, where the BJP has consistently sought to frame the AAP government as soft on crime and drugs. Critics argue that the BJP's intervention carries an electoral subtext, given the party's ambitions to reclaim ground in the state. The AAP government has yet to formally respond to the specific allegations raised during Shah's visit.

What Happens Next

The CBI enquiry reportedly ordered by the Punjab government — reportedly under central pressure — is expected to examine the roots of the organised crime network, including alleged jail-based operations. Home Minister Shah's interactions with victim families are likely to intensify political pressure on the state government to demonstrate tangible action. All eyes are on whether the CBI will be formally granted jurisdiction and what the scope of its mandate will cover.