CHANDIGARH: The deepening concern over drug abuse in Punjab has moved back to the centre of political debate with the launch of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’, a statewide campaign that the party says will travel through all 117 Assembly constituencies.
BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh said Punjab “cannot afford another generation lost to drugs,” pointing to figures cited from a Parliamentary Standing Committee report on drug abuse among young people.According to the parliamentary report, drug and substance abuse has been identified as a serious problem in Punjab, particularly among children, teenagers and young people. The committee has specifically noted the prevalence of drug abuse in Punjab and Delhi and called for stronger prevention, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation measures.
In his statement, Vikramjit Singh cited an estimate of more than 66 lakh people affected by substance use in Punjab, including around 7 lakh children aged 10–17. These figures are being highlighted by the BJP to underline the scale of the challenge facing the state.The political debate intensified after former Union minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu alleged that his cavalcade was attacked near Ghasitpura village, close to Batala, on September 18, while he was travelling to Pathankot for the launch of the anti-drug yatra.
Bittu alleged that a large group surrounded his convoy and that stones, eggs and other objects were thrown at the vehicles. He also claimed that windows of escort vehicles were damaged. He alleged that some of those involved had links with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and demanded an investigation. These claims have been reported by several media outlets; the allegations of political involvement remain allegations and require verification through an investigation.
The incident has added another layer to an already heated political debate over Punjab’s drug problem and the methods being adopted by political parties to address it.The BJP’s Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra is planned to cover approximately 4,000 kilometres, passing through all 117 Assembly constituencies before culminating in Jalandhar on September 30. The campaign was launched from Pathankot amid the party’s effort to make drug abuse a central public issue ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election.Vikramjit Singh said the campaign would not be confined to political offices, arguing that the fight against drugs must reach villages, neighbourhoods and families affected by addiction.
His comments come at a time when Punjab continues to face questions over the effectiveness of drug prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation and treatment programmes.The parliamentary committee has previously stressed the importance of identifying people affected by substance abuse, providing counselling and treatment, strengthening rehabilitation services and expanding preventive awareness among young people.Meanwhile, the confrontation surrounding Bittu’s convoy has raised separate questions about political violence, public order and the security of political leaders during statewide campaigns.
The larger issue, however, remains Punjab’s drug crisis. Behind the political arguments and competing accusations are families dealing with addiction, young people at risk and communities demanding effective action.For Punjab, the challenge is not merely how political parties campaign against drugs, but whether sustained prevention, enforcement, treatment and rehabilitation can produce measurable results on the ground.