Pathankot (Punjab) [India], September 18 (ANI): Addressing a gathering in Pathankot, BJP National President Nitin Nabin issued a battle cry against the state’s drug crisis, using his visit to signal the start of an aggressive, statewide “Nasha Mukt” campaign on Friday.
Nabin’s address comes at a politically volatile moment in Punjab, where the recent tragedy of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh has ignited intense cross-party warfare.
Nabin made it clear that the BJP intends to turn the anti-drug initiative into a grassroots movement across every district, directly challenging the ruling administration’s record on public safety and law enforcement.
“I have come here to address an issue—an issue reflecting the pain and the voices echoing in every household across Punjab. I have come to stand in solidarity with the people amidst this suffering… We must take this ‘Nasha Mukt’ campaign to every corner of Punjab and strengthen it by uniting with every Punjabi and every community in the state… Whenever our nation’s borders faced a threat, the youth of Punjab—our brave soldiers—would stand tall, armed and ready to defend the country. But today, Punjab faces an enemy that does not wear a uniform; instead, it silently infiltrates our villages and homes, gradually ensnaring entire families in its grip. This enemy is none other than the drug menace and the mafia behind it… When the BJP—its workers and its leadership—undertakes a pledge, it possesses the determination and capability to see it through to fruition,” said Nabin.
The tragedy centred on Gulzar Singh, a resident of Sangrur who publicly questioned Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the unrestricted circulation of synthetic drugs (chitta) after watching his own son fall victim to addiction.
Following the public confrontation, Singh was allegedly subjected to severe pressure, intimidation, and casteist slurs by local representatives demanding an apology. Distressed by the harassment, Singh recorded a video naming those responsible before consuming poison.
His death triggered a political storm, with petitions filed in the High Court, calls for a CBI inquiry, and intervention sought from national bodies including the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
While the AAP state government has accused opposition parties of politicising the tragedy, rivals have cited the incident as evidence of systemic failure to crack down on narco networks.
Nitin Nabin also interacted with victims and families devastated by the drug menace in Punjab in Pathankot on the sidelines of the launch of Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra.
Speaking to reporters after addressing a public meeting, Nabin said Punjab was a land that had given voice to the teachings of the Gurus, produced soldiers, contributed to the country’s food security and produced athletes and entrepreneurs.
“Today, I had the opportunity to visit the sacred land of Punjab—a land whose soil gave voice to the teachings of the Gurus, forged soldiers with hearts of steel, and whose fields provided a granary of food for the entire nation. Its athletes have won medals for India on the sports field, and its youth have forged ahead through entrepreneurship. Yet today, Punjab and its younger generations have been ensnared by the system in the abyss of drug abuse,” he said.
He said the BJP would reach every home, village and town through the yatra and “champion the cause of the suffering families”.
“Through this Yatra, the BJP will reach every home, village, and town. We will champion the cause of the suffering families,” he said.
Nabin also targeted the state government, saying the party would raise its voice against “the mafia rule, the gangster culture, and the administration mired in corruption” and would “strike a decisive blow against the drug trade being fueled by the current government.”
On Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s turban jibe, Nabin said, “I have no need to answer him. It is the people of Punjab who will give him the answer.”
With the Punjab Assembly elections approaching, opposition parties are making drug abuse and governance their key poll planks.
The BJP’s push from border areas like Pathankot is aimed at consolidating rural and Scheduled Caste voters – a crucial 32% voting bloc in the state – by projecting drug addiction as a structural threat to Punjab’s identity and national security.
The ‘Nasha Mukt’ campaign came amid allegations by BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu that his cavalcade was attacked while he was travelling to Pathankot to participate in the yatra. Bittu alleged that around 500 people surrounded his convoy, threatened to attack them and damaged vehicle windows. He also claimed that some protesters were carrying weapons.
Bittu said he was seeking registration of an FIR and had been waiting for the SSP since around 9 am. He alleged that no action had been taken and accused the AAP government of being responsible for the drug menace.
BJP MP Raghav Chadha alleged that the AAP was “scared” and attempting to attack Bittu, saying the incident raised questions over the law and order situation in Punjab.
“The AAP is scared; that is why they are attempting to attack our party member, Ravneet Singh Bittu. This also highlights the state of law and order in Punjab. Even a former minister like Ravneet Singh Bittu—who holds Z-plus security protection—is vulnerable to such attacks. This implies that the common man in Punjab is not safe at all,” Chadha said.
Punjab BJP Mahila Morcha president Jai Inder Kaur alleged that the incident was an attempt to divert attention from the BJP’s anti-drug campaign.
“Our drug-free campaign is launching today, and it will cover the entire state of Punjab. A terrible incident of an attack on Ravneet Bittu occurred today. In my view, this attack is an attempt to divert attention from our campaign, as they are aware of the government’s failure regarding the widespread drug menace across Punjab,” she said.
BJP leader HS Phoolka alleged that the drug menace had become widespread in Punjab and claimed that those speaking against drug smugglers were being targeted.
“The situation in Punjab is such that drugs are sold as freely as common salt; there is even home delivery—drugs reach every doorstep in Punjab. Villagers are deeply distressed and fed up. Anyone who raises their voice against drugs or drug smugglers comes under attack,” Phoolka said.
BJP leader Vijay Sampla also alleged that the law and order situation in Punjab had deteriorated, claiming that the state had witnessed a “Gunda Raj”.
“There isn’t a single street or neighbourhood in Punjab where someone hasn’t fallen victim to the scourge of drugs; the drug menace has completely engulfed the state. Furthermore, the law and order situation in Punjab has collapsed; a reign of lawlessness prevails,” Sampla said.
He alleged that BJP leaders had faced attacks and claimed that the situation had worsened ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
The BJP’s ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’ is a statewide campaign against drug abuse. The four yatras are planned to cover all 117 Assembly constituencies, with the campaign scheduled to culminate in Jalandhar on September 30. (ANI)
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