Months before Punjab heads to the polls, the BJP is preparing a statewide campaign against drug abuse, one that party leaders hope will resonate beyond a conventional political outreach exercise.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin will flag off the yatra, sources said, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to attend the concluding event in Jalandhar.
Five major rallies are planned during the campaign. The party is also attempting to ensure the yatra does not appear to be a routine political roadshow. Families affected by drug addiction are expected to share their experiences at several stops, with the focus being on personal stories as much as political messaging. The party also plans to involve NGOs working on de-addiction, youth clubs, sports bodies, rehabilitation centres and village-level anti-drug committees. Pledge-signing campaigns against drug use are scheduled at multiple locations along the route.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin will flag off the yatra, sources said, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to attend the concluding event in Jalandhar. Alongside the rallies, the BJP is preparing what it calls a “drug abuse chargesheet”, a document outlining its allegations against the AAP government’s handling of narcotics control, which will be distributed during the campaign. The outreach target is ambitious, with the party aiming to reach nearly three crore people through ground events, local engagement initiatives and a social media campaign, according to sources.
