BJP’s 'Drug-Free Punjab Yatra' Bars Black Clothes Amid Security Fears and Traffic Snarls
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The Bharatiya Janata Party’s high-profile 'Drug-Free Punjab Yatra' marched into Mohali on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, setting off heightened political activity alongside stringent security clampdowns across key urban junctions. Staged across twin public rallies organized in Phase 1 and Phase 11, the statewide campaign drew significant police deployment following intelligence inputs warning of potential disruptions from rival political factions. In a dramatic security measure enforced from the dais, organizers made repeated public address announcements strictly prohibiting individuals clad in black garments from entering the event enclosures. Local police personnel maintained vigilant scrutiny at entry barricades, turning away black-clad attendees to prevent prospective black-flag demonstrations or spontaneous counter-protests from derailing the proceedings.
Ashish Sood Slams AAP and Kejriwal: 'Saving Punjab's Youth and Water, Not Chasing Votes'
Addressing the public meetings as the chief guest, Delhi Cabinet Minister Ashish Sood launched a scathing political attack against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership, asserting that the BJP's outreach is focused on rescuing the state's youth and natural water resources rather than electoral arithmetic. Sood claimed that former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, after facing rejection from Delhi voters, has sought refuge in Punjab while turning a blind eye to the worsening narcotics crisis gripping the border state. He urged citizens to rally behind the saffron party to permanently eradicate substance abuse networks. Supporting his call, BJP Punjab State President Kewal Singh Dhillon noted that thousands of residents are mobilizing across districts to demand decisive action against illicit trade, while Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Satnam Singh Sandhu stated at Phase 11 that ending systemic addiction requires comprehensive governance intervention.
Gau Hospital Visit in Phase 1 and Massive Traffic Gridlock from Phase 11
Beyond political deliberations, Minister Ashish Sood visited the Gau Hospital in Phase 1, where he fed local cattle and performed a ceremonial cutting of a specially prepared fodder and whole-grain cake dedicated to bovine welfare. However, the sheer scale of the yatra created severe civic disruptions throughout SAS Nagar. With the central rally stage constructed directly behind the Phase 11 fuel station, extensive lines of official convoys, party flag-bearers, and attendee vehicles parked haphazardly along the primary thoroughfares. The resultant bottleneck choked transit routes connecting Phase 11 to Phase 1 for multiple hours, leaving daily commuters, pedestrians, and public transport operators navigating crawling traffic snarls well into Tuesday evening.
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