Congress general secretary and Punjab in-charge Sachin Pilot on Wednesday criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on the state's drug problem, describing the BJP's anti-drug march as a failure and questioning the Centre's record in preventing narcotics from entering the country. His remarks came as Shah addressed a rally in Jalandhar at the conclusion of the BJP's 13-day Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra.
Pilot questioned the effectiveness of the BJP's campaign and argued that the Centre must take responsibility for preventing drug trafficking through international borders and ports. He has repeatedly maintained that tackling Punjab's drug problem requires action against trafficking networks rather than political demonstrations alone.
Pilot questions Centre's responsibility
The Congress leader's criticism followed Shah's announcement that the BJP would make eliminating drug trafficking its principal campaign issue in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Shah promised that, if elected, his party would eradicate the trade in chitta, a commonly used term for synthetic drugs, by December 31, 2029.
Pilot has previously questioned the Centre's handling of drug trafficking, citing major narcotics seizures at Indian ports, including the seizure of nearly 3,000 kg of heroin at Gujarat's Mundra port in September 2021. He has argued that central agencies responsible for border security and preventing international drug trafficking must also be held accountable.
Shah targets AAP government
Addressing the concluding rally in Jalandhar, Shah accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of allowing the drug trade to flourish in Punjab. He said the BJP would contest the forthcoming Assembly elections with the objective of making the state free from drug trafficking.
The Home Minister said Punjab faced several challenges, including agricultural distress, industrial development, law and order and women's safety, but maintained that combating drugs would remain central to the BJP's electoral campaign. He also met families affected by drug abuse and assured them that drug traffickers would face stringent action if the BJP formed the next government.
BJP concludes statewide campaign
The BJP's Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra began on September 18 and travelled approximately 4,000 km across all 117 Assembly constituencies through four separate routes. The campaign concluded with Shah's rally at Paragpur near Jalandhar on Wednesday.
The BJP has described the campaign as an effort to mobilise public support against drug abuse. Its political opponents, including the Congress and the ruling AAP, have questioned the party's approach and argued that the Centre must address drug trafficking alongside state-level enforcement.
Drug crisis emerges as election issue
Punjab's drug problem has become a major political issue ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with the Congress, BJP and AAP exchanging allegations over responsibility for tackling narcotics trafficking and addiction. Pilot has also criticised the AAP government's handling of the issue, accusing it of failing to fulfil its promises to curb drug abuse.
The BJP, meanwhile, has sought to place the drug crisis at the centre of its election campaign, while the Congress has emphasised the responsibilities of both the state government and central enforcement agencies. The competing claims have intensified the political debate over drug trafficking, enforcement and rehabilitation in Punjab.