Amit Shah to Visit Punjab on October 20; Bittu Calls for Decisive Action Against Drugs

BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu welcomed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s proposed visit to Punjab on October 20, saying the state needed decisive action, strong leadership and a firm resolve to tackle the drug menace and safeguard its youth. He claimed that the AAP government had lost its mandate well before completing its term and appealed to Punjabis to support Shah and have faith in the BJP’s mission to make Punjab drug-free. Calling for unity to protect the state’s youth, Bittu said Punjab must reclaim its future. It will be Shah’s second visit to Punjab within a month. He had visited Jalandhar on September 30 and addressed a rally marking the culmination of the BJP’s ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’, which began on September 18. On Friday, Shah said the Centre would seek the Punjab government’s response over two incidents in the state — the alleged suicide of a father under pressure in Dirba and the broad-daylight killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Parvinder Singh Jhota, a 42-year-old anti-drug activist from Mansa, campaigned against the alleged illegal sale of intoxicating drugs and medicines. He was shot dead on October 13 during a confrontation with medical store owner Ashwani Kumar, who was arrested in Rajasthan. His killing triggered a Punjab bandh on October 15, with various groups demanding justice and a CBI probe. His father, Bhim Singh, has refused to cremate the body, which remains in Mansa Civil Hospital’s mortuary, until justice is delivered and those responsible are held accountable. Parvinder Singh Jhota, a 42-year-old anti-drug activist from Mansa, campaigned against the alleged illegal sale of intoxicating drugs and medicines. He was shot dead on October 13 during a confrontation with medical store owner Ashwani Kumar, who was arrested in Rajasthan. His killing triggered a Punjab bandh on October 15, with various groups demanding justice and a CBI probe. His father, Bhim Singh, has refused to cremate the body, which remains in Mansa Civil Hospital’s mortuary, until justice is delivered and those responsible are held accountable. Gulzar Singh, a Dalit daily-wage labourer from Toor Banjara village in Sangrur district, allegedly died by suicide on September 7 after consuming poison. A day earlier, he had questioned Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema at a public meeting over the alleged sale and supply of ‘chitta’ (heroin) in his village. Gulzar had alleged that his son’s drug addiction had forced the family to sell household belongings and that he faced pressure to apologise after raising the issue. His death triggered a political controversy, with his family alleging harassment and police registering a case against five people. The Punjab Police constituted a special investigation team to probe the case, while a petition seeking a CBI investigation was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Amit Shah’s visit is considered significant in view of the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for 2027.