Anurag Singh Thakur Joins Massive Anti-Drug Campaign in Punjab, Calls for a Decisive Battle to Protect Future Generations
Hamirpur/Rupnagar, 23 September 2026 : Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur addressed massive public gatherings at Gurudwara Sri Katalgarh Sahib, Morinda, Ropar City and Ghanauli in Rupnagar district as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s anti-drug campaign in Punjab. He called for a united and decisive battle against the growing drug crisis and appealed to the people of Punjab to come together to protect the future of the younger generation.
Anurag Singh Thakur said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Central Government remains committed to protecting the youth of the country from the menace of drugs. He said Punjab is facing a serious challenge due to drug abuse and trafficking and that a sustained effort involving government agencies, families, youth and civil society is essential to address the problem.
He said that making Punjab drug-free is crucial for protecting India’s youth and advancing the national vision of a developed India. He described the BJP’s Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra as a mass awareness campaign aimed at protecting Punjab’s social heritage and securing a safer future for coming generations.
Launching a strong attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government, Anurag Singh Thakur questioned its record on tackling the drug menace. He said that despite repeated assurances regarding timelines for eliminating drugs, the problem continues to remain a major concern. He referred to the continuing allegations of drug trafficking, the impact on families and the rising number of people seeking treatment for substance dependence.
Anurag Singh Thakur also questioned the state government’s claims regarding arrests of drug smugglers. Referring to the claim of 73,000 arrests in 18 months, he called for greater transparency regarding the nature of these arrests, preventive action and their outcomes.
He cited government figures showing that admissions at government de-addiction centers increased from 9,577 in 2024 to 25,290 in 2025. He said that more than 14,000 patients had reportedly been admitted by the middle of 2026, and argued that these figures underline the scale of the challenge facing Punjab.
Anurag Singh Thakur said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government is working towards the goal of a drug-free India by 2029, with Punjab being an important part of this national effort. He appealed to the youth, farmers, families and civil society organizations of Punjab to rise above political differences and contribute to a collective campaign against drugs.
Anurag Singh Thakur Raises Questions Over Credit for Kishau Project
During a media interaction before the programme, Anurag Singh Thakur referred to the recent agreement among six states to move forward with the long-pending Kishau Multipurpose Project.
According to the Central Government, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan reached consensus in June 2026 to move forward with the project, followed by the signing of the agreement in September. Under the agreed arrangement, the Central Government will bear approximately 90 percent of the financial burden of the water component, while the remaining 10 percent will be shared by the participating states.
Anurag Singh Thakur said that the Kishau project had remained pending for several years and that sustained efforts by the Central Government and the participating states helped bring the stakeholders together. He described the consensus-building process as an example of cooperative federalism.
He criticized Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for, according to him, attempting to take political credit for the project. Thakur said that the progress achieved on Kishau was the result of prolonged inter-state consultations and efforts to resolve differences relating to financing, water allocation and power benefits.
The Central Government has declared the Kishau Multipurpose Project a National Project. The proposed project is located on the Tons River along the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border. Official information states that it is expected to support irrigation of approximately 97,000 hectares and generate around 1,476 million units of clean hydropower.
Anurag Singh Thakur said that strengthening water, irrigation and energy security in Himachal Pradesh and the wider northern region should remain a priority. He stressed that the interests of all participating states must be protected while ensuring transparency and timely implementation of the Kishau project.
