New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has described Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s upcoming visit to Punjab as significant for tackling alleged drug trafficking networks and organised criminal gangs operating in the state.
Speaking to reporters at his residence on Monday, BJP national headquarters in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over Punjab’s drug problem, alleged trafficking networks and law-and-order concerns.
Chugh claimed that Shah’s visit could help intensify action against criminal networks and bring greater attention to the challenges facing the state.
BJP Raises Questions Over Drug Trafficking and Law and Order
Chugh said the availability of drugs in Punjab’s localities, the alleged operations of trafficking networks and concerns about law and order raised serious questions about the state’s current situation.
He also expressed concern over reported killings of people who had spoken out against drug trafficking. According to Chugh, such incidents have heightened concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of efforts to tackle the drug problem.
The BJP leader alleged that the state government needed to explain what concrete measures it had taken to curb drug trafficking and dismantle the networks involved.
His remarks reflect the BJP’s criticism of the AAP government, while the allegations and the circumstances surrounding individual cases remain matters for the relevant authorities to establish.
Amit Shah to Visit Punjab on October 20
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Punjab on October 20, 2026, according to announcements by BJP leaders. Reports say he is expected to meet families affected by recent incidents involving people who had spoken out against the drug menace.
The visit comes amid renewed political debate over drug trafficking and public safety in the state. The Union Home Ministry has also sought detailed reports from the Punjab government regarding recent deaths that have drawn attention to the drug problem.
BJP Sets December 2029 Target for Drug-Free Punjab
Chugh said the BJP had set a target of making Punjab drug-free by December 31, 2029. The target was announced by Amit Shah during the BJP’s Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra rally in Jalandhar on September 30.
Shah said the BJP would make eliminating the synthetic drug trade a major issue in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, pledging to eradicate the trade if the party came to power in the state.
Chugh said the BJP was committed to the target and claimed that people in Punjab were looking for a clear deadline and a concrete plan to address the drug problem.
The December 2029 deadline is the BJP’s political commitment; it does not represent a declaration that Punjab has already achieved drug-free status.
AAP Government Asked to Explain Its Measures
Chugh called on the government led by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to explain the steps taken to combat drug trafficking and improve law and order.
He argued that the state government must be accountable for the safety of ordinary residents and for addressing the concerns of families affected by drug-related problems.
The BJP has made the drug issue a central part of its political campaign in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The debate is expected to continue as Amit Shah’s visit brings further attention to the issue.
