Key Highlights:
- Raghav Chadha joined BJP National President Nitin Nabin to flag off the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra in Pathankot.
- Chadha said meeting families affected by drugs was a painful reminder of the crisis's human cost.
- He alleged the AAP government's promise to eradicate drugs has failed, with the "chitta" supply increasing over four-and-a-half years.
- Chadha said overdose deaths, drug consumption and home-delivery of narcotics have all risen in Punjab.
- The yatra aims to highlight the drug problem's scale and will travel through various parts of the state in the coming days.
A Cross-Party Appearance on a Sensitive Issue
Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha on Friday joined Bharatiya Janata Party National President Nitin Nabin in Pathankot to flag off the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, a programme focused on the drug crisis gripping the state and the suffering of affected families. Chadha's participation alongside a rival party's national president adds a notable cross-party dimension to what is otherwise a campaign centred on a deeply human and social issue rather than conventional partisan politics.
Chadha's Reflections on Meeting Affected Families
Chadha shared details of the event on his X account, writing that he had met families living through the devastating impact of drugs and describing their stories as a painful reminder of the human cost of the crisis. "Drugs don't just destroy lives. They destroy families," he said, framing the issue in terms of its broader familial and social toll rather than focusing solely on individual addiction outcomes.
Allegations Against the Punjab Government
The MP alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab had promised to eradicate the drug menace but had failed to deliver on that commitment. He claimed that over the last four and a half years, the problem had increased significantly rather than improving, a notable admission given that Chadha himself is a member of the same party currently governing the state.
Specific Claims About the Drug Supply
According to Chadha, the supply of drugs, particularly "chitta," has boomed and continues to flow freely through the state despite the government's stated commitments to curb it. He said the number of overdose victims has risen, drug consumption has grown, and narcotics are now available for home delivery on a large scale, painting a picture of an escalating crisis rather than one showing signs of containment.
A Broken Promise to Punjab's Youth
Chadha further added that Punjab's youth had been promised jobs, opportunities and a better future, but that instead, families continue to pay the heaviest price for the unchecked spread of drugs, directly contrasting the government's original electoral promises with what he described as the current lived reality for many households in the state.
Where the Yatra Was Launched
The Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra was flagged off in Pathankot in the presence of BJP National President Nitin Nabin. The campaign aims to highlight the scale of the drug problem and mobilise public opinion against it, positioning the yatra as an awareness and advocacy effort rather than a purely symbolic political gesture.
A Notable Political Dynamic
Chadha's participation and his public remarks have drawn attention to the continuing political debate over the effectiveness of the state government's anti-drug measures. His comments once again spotlight the gap between promises and the ground reality ordinary citizens face, an observation made particularly striking given that Chadha's own party currently holds power in Punjab, making his critical remarks a notable instance of internal political tension being expressed publicly.
What Lies Ahead for the Campaign
The yatra is expected to travel through various parts of the state in the coming days, with further interactions planned with affected families and local communities, suggesting that this initial flag-off in Pathankot marks the beginning of a sustained, multi-location campaign rather than a single, isolated event.
Key Highlights:
- Raghav Chadha joined BJP National President Nitin Nabin to flag off the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra in Pathankot.
- Chadha said meeting families affected by drugs was a painful reminder of the crisis's human cost.
- He alleged the AAP government's promise to eradicate drugs has failed, with the "chitta" supply increasing over four-and-a-half years.
- Chadha said overdose deaths, drug consumption and home-delivery of narcotics have all risen in Punjab.
- The yatra aims to highlight the drug problem's scale and will travel through various parts of the state in the coming days.
A Cross-Party Appearance on a Sensitive Issue
Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha on Friday joined Bharatiya Janata Party National President Nitin Nabin in Pathankot to flag off the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, a programme focused on the drug crisis gripping the state and the suffering of affected families. Chadha's participation alongside a rival party's national president adds a notable cross-party dimension to what is otherwise a campaign centred on a deeply human and social issue rather than conventional partisan politics.
Chadha's Reflections on Meeting Affected Families
Chadha shared details of the event on his X account, writing that he had met families living through the devastating impact of drugs and describing their stories as a painful reminder of the human cost of the crisis. "Drugs don't just destroy lives. They destroy families," he said, framing the issue in terms of its broader familial and social toll rather than focusing solely on individual addiction outcomes.
Allegations Against the Punjab Government
The MP alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab had promised to eradicate the drug menace but had failed to deliver on that commitment. He claimed that over the last four and a half years, the problem had increased significantly rather than improving, a notable admission given that Chadha himself is a member of the same party currently governing the state.
Specific Claims About the Drug Supply
According to Chadha, the supply of drugs, particularly "chitta," has boomed and continues to flow freely through the state despite the government's stated commitments to curb it. He said the number of overdose victims has risen, drug consumption has grown, and narcotics are now available for home delivery on a large scale, painting a picture of an escalating crisis rather than one showing signs of containment.
A Broken Promise to Punjab's Youth
Chadha further added that Punjab's youth had been promised jobs, opportunities and a better future, but that instead, families continue to pay the heaviest price for the unchecked spread of drugs, directly contrasting the government's original electoral promises with what he described as the current lived reality for many households in the state.
Where the Yatra Was Launched
The Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra was flagged off in Pathankot in the presence of BJP National President Nitin Nabin. The campaign aims to highlight the scale of the drug problem and mobilise public opinion against it, positioning the yatra as an awareness and advocacy effort rather than a purely symbolic political gesture.
A Notable Political Dynamic
Chadha's participation and his public remarks have drawn attention to the continuing political debate over the effectiveness of the state government's anti-drug measures. His comments once again spotlight the gap between promises and the ground reality ordinary citizens face, an observation made particularly striking given that Chadha's own party currently holds power in Punjab, making his critical remarks a notable instance of internal political tension being expressed publicly.
What Lies Ahead for the Campaign
The yatra is expected to travel through various parts of the state in the coming days, with further interactions planned with affected families and local communities, suggesting that this initial flag-off in Pathankot marks the beginning of a sustained, multi-location campaign rather than a single, isolated event.