Amit Shah pledges to end drug menace in Punjab by 2029

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday put drugs at the centre of BJP's 2027 Punjab poll pitch, making 'Nasha Mukt Punjab' the party's core electoral plank. He however did not announce whether the party will contest on all the 117 assembly seats. He also did not attack the party's ex-ally Shiromani Akali Dal.

Addressing the concluding rally of the BJP's 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra' in Jalandhar, Shah accused the AAP government of allowing the synthetic drug trade to flourish openly and promised to rid Punjab of "chitta" by December 31, 2029, if voters backed the BJP.

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"Can AAP make Punjab drugs-free? Only the BJP can make Punjab drugs-free," Shah said.

Shah said Punjab had several electoral issues, including farmers' concerns, industry, law and order and women's safety, but 'a drug-free Punjab' remained the party's central campaign.

The Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, which began on September 18, covered nearly 4,000 km and passed through all 117 assembly constituencies over 13 days before culminating in Jalandhar. BJP national president Nitin Nabin had flagged off the first of the four statewide anti-drug yatras from Pathankot.

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Taking a swipe at the AAP government without naming Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Shah said, "Someone who gets intoxicated and insults the Gurus cannot free Punjab from the scourge of drugs."