📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Al Jazeera
Politics
BJP pledges drug‑free Punjab within two years ahead of state elections
✍️ India Today
🗓 18 Sep 2026, 06:46 AM
👁 9
The BJP announced a plan to eradicate drug abuse in Punjab within two years, timing the pledge before the upcoming assembly polls amid a surge in suicides linked to substance abuse.
New Delhi – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has declared that it will make Punjab free of illicit drugs within a two‑year timeframe. The statement was made during a party rally in the state as the BJP gears up for the upcoming Punjab Legislative Assembly elections.
Party officials said the initiative will involve stricter enforcement of existing drug laws, increased rehabilitation facilities, and coordinated action with law‑enforcement agencies. They emphasized that curbing drug abuse is essential to address the rising number of suicides that have plagued the state in recent months.
Punjab has long struggled with a drug crisis, with health officials linking the prevalence of narcotics to a spike in suicide cases, especially among youth. The BJP’s pledge comes as the party seeks to win voter confidence by tackling what it describes as a public health emergency.
While the promise has been welcomed by some anti‑drug activists, critics argue that concrete policy details remain unclear and that implementation will require sustained effort beyond the election cycle.
The BJP aims to roll out its drug‑free agenda soon after the elections, positioning it as a cornerstone of its governance agenda for Punjab.
Party officials said the initiative will involve stricter enforcement of existing drug laws, increased rehabilitation facilities, and coordinated action with law‑enforcement agencies. They emphasized that curbing drug abuse is essential to address the rising number of suicides that have plagued the state in recent months.
Punjab has long struggled with a drug crisis, with health officials linking the prevalence of narcotics to a spike in suicide cases, especially among youth. The BJP’s pledge comes as the party seeks to win voter confidence by tackling what it describes as a public health emergency.
While the promise has been welcomed by some anti‑drug activists, critics argue that concrete policy details remain unclear and that implementation will require sustained effort beyond the election cycle.
The BJP aims to roll out its drug‑free agenda soon after the elections, positioning it as a cornerstone of its governance agenda for Punjab.