Amritsar: The Congress on Sunday, November 15, launched its 'Nasha Chhodo, Bharat Jodo' campaign in Amritsar with an anti-drug marathon, as the party stepped up its preparations for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Posts by the Congress Seva Dal and the Punjab Congress Seva Dal from the event showed large crowds of young participants in matching white campaign t-shirts gathered at Guru Nanak Stadium in the city.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

Speaking to ANI, Amritsar Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said the campaign was currently underway in Punjab and that the party would carry it forward. "The 'Nasha Chhodo, Bharat Jodo' campaign is currently underway in Punjab... The Congress party has always raised critical social issues; today, maintaining a healthy, fit body is essential, as a healthy individual would never even come close to drugs. This initiative is being organised here, and the Congress party is committed to taking it forward," he said.

Aujla promised a concrete plan to curb the drug menace if the Congress is voted to power. "I promise that once we form the government, we will implement a robust, concrete program to protect Punjab from the menace of drugs... The drug situation in Punjab is dire; it has reached alarming levels," he told ANI.

The MP also blamed the Centre for failing to curb cross-border smuggling — an allegation, presented here as his claim and not as an established finding. "Large quantities of drugs and weapons are being smuggled in from Pakistan via drones; the Central Government was supposed to deploy anti-drone systems to counter this, but it has failed to do so," he said. No response from the Centre, the BJP or the ruling AAP to Aujla's remarks was reported in the ANI report at the time of filing.

Part of a wider Congress youth push in Punjab

The Amritsar launch follows the Punjab Congress's statewide 'Jawani Sambhal' cycle yatra, rolled out on Thursday from Chamkaur Sahib in Ropar district ahead of the 2027 elections. Read: Congress's 'Jawani Sambhal' yatra from Chamkaur Sahib

The Jawani Sambhal launch brought together Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot, state unit chief Pargat Singh, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and other senior leaders. According to the ANI report, that campaign aims to engage Punjab's youth and raise awareness on the drug menace, gangster culture and crime.

The Congress push comes as rival parties also accelerate their 2027 preparations. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has announced its second list of 31 candidates — dropping several sitting MLAs, including a Cabinet minister, and fielding new faces in multiple constituencies — after earlier announcing 40 candidates, the ANI report said.