📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Politics
Harsimrat Badal Promises a Drug‑Free Punjab if Akali Dal Wins 2027 Election
✍️ India Today
🗓 14 Nov 2026, 04:32 AM
👁 16
Senior Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Badal pledged to eradicate drug abuse in Punjab if her party returns to power in the 2027 state elections.
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Union minister Harsimrat Badal announced that her party will launch a comprehensive anti‑drug programme should it regain control of the Punjab government in the 2027 assembly elections. Badal said the initiative will focus on stricter enforcement, rehabilitation centres and community awareness to curb the long‑standing drug crisis that has plagued the state.
The statement was made during a press conference in Chandigarh, where Badal outlined the party's intent to allocate dedicated resources and collaborate with law‑enforcement agencies to dismantle drug networks. She emphasized that a drug‑free Punjab is a prerequisite for the state's social and economic revival.
Punjab has witnessed a surge in substance abuse over the past decade, prompting successive governments to launch various schemes with limited success. Badal's pledge adds a political dimension to the ongoing debate, positioning the anti‑drug agenda as a central plank of the SAD's 2027 electoral campaign.
Analysts note that the promise could resonate with voters, especially in rural districts where drug-related issues have impacted youth and agriculture. However, they also caution that effective implementation will require sustained funding, inter‑state coordination and robust monitoring mechanisms.
The next Punjab assembly election is scheduled for early 2027, and the SAD is expected to field Badal as a key campaign figure, leveraging the anti‑drug narrative to differentiate itself from rival parties.
The statement was made during a press conference in Chandigarh, where Badal outlined the party's intent to allocate dedicated resources and collaborate with law‑enforcement agencies to dismantle drug networks. She emphasized that a drug‑free Punjab is a prerequisite for the state's social and economic revival.
Punjab has witnessed a surge in substance abuse over the past decade, prompting successive governments to launch various schemes with limited success. Badal's pledge adds a political dimension to the ongoing debate, positioning the anti‑drug agenda as a central plank of the SAD's 2027 electoral campaign.
Analysts note that the promise could resonate with voters, especially in rural districts where drug-related issues have impacted youth and agriculture. However, they also caution that effective implementation will require sustained funding, inter‑state coordination and robust monitoring mechanisms.
The next Punjab assembly election is scheduled for early 2027, and the SAD is expected to field Badal as a key campaign figure, leveraging the anti‑drug narrative to differentiate itself from rival parties.