In a dimly lit hall at the Punjab state secretariat, 30 chairs sat empty, each bearing a handwritten name of a victim. A mother whispered, "We lost my son to an overdose; the state failed us," as she placed her own empty chair beside the others.
Kewal Singh Dhillon, the BJP’s Punjab chief, used the stark tableau to accuse the AAP government of turning a blind eye to the drug menace. He vowed that if the party won, it would make Punjab drug‑free within 24 months, citing the need for harsh law enforcement and rehabilitation.
The party’s 13‑day Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra will start on 18 September in Pathankot and sweep through all 17 assembly constituencies, ending in Bathinda on 21 September. Union ministers and state leaders will join each stop, turning the march into a statewide campaign.
The rally also spotlighted Gulzar Singh of Toor Banjara, who alleged that Punjab minister Harpal Singh Cheema pressured him after his son’s addiction. Cheema dismissed the claims as a smear and said the investigation would prove the allegations false.
The AAP government has promised to strengthen anti‑drug units but critics say action has been sluggish. The Yatra could intensify political pressure on the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections, forcing a sharper debate on drug policy.