States » NorthPosted at: Oct 19 2026 7:50PM


Amit Shah to attend Dussehra celebrations in Ludhiana, meet families of anti-drug campaigners in Punjab

Chandigarh, Oct 19 (UNI) union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend Dussehra celebrations at Daresi Ground in Ludhiana on Tuesday evening after meeting the families of three people who died while campaigning against drug abuse in Punjab, state BJP general secretary Anil Sareen said on Monday.
Shah's one-day visit comes amid growing political confrontation over the drug menace, with the BJP accusing the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to curb trafficking and protect those speaking out against it.
Sareen said Shah would meet the families of Bikramjit Singh in Sri Hargobindpur Sahib in Batala, anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, and Gulzar Singh in Toor Banjara village of Sangrur district.
"These three families have become symbols of Punjab's fight against drugs. The Home Minister will personally meet them, express his condolences and stand with them in their demand for justice," Sareen said.
Jhota's father, Bhim Singh, had earlier appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah to intervene and ensure justice for his son, who was killed after campaigning against drugs.
Sareen said Gulzar Singh had reportedly died by suicide after raising his voice against drug abuse, while Bikramjit Singh was also among those who had opposed the menace.
Drawing a parallel between Dussehra and the BJP's anti-drug campaign, Sareen said the party was determined to eradicate drugs from Punjab.
"Just as Lord Ram defeated Ravana, Punjab must now defeat the Ravana of drugs. We have pledged to make Punjab completely drug-free by December 31, 2029, after forming the government in the state," he said.
Attacking Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over his foreign visit, Sareen alleged that the state government had abandoned families suffering because of drugs.
"Punjab is battling the devastating consequences of drug abuse while the Chief Minister is enjoying a foreign tour. The AAP government has left Punjab to fend for itself, but the BJP stands firmly with the affected families," he said.
Sareen said Shah would attend the Ravana Dahan ceremony at the historic Daresi Ground in Ludhiana as the chief guest in the evening, marking the conclusion of his day-long Punjab visit.
The BJP has sought to make drug trafficking and the deaths of anti-drug campaigners a major political issue in Punjab, accusing the state government of failing to deliver on its promises to eliminate the menace.
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Tags: #Amit Shah to attend Dussehra celebrations in Ludhiana# meet families of anti-drug campaigners in Punjab
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