Harsimrat Badal calls for Kisan Andolan-style women’s movement against drugs in Punjab
Babushahi Bureau
Mohali (Punjab), September 26, 2026: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Saturday called on women across Punjab to launch an agitation on the lines of the Kisan Andolan to fight the state’s drug problem.
Addressing ‘Maawan-Dheeyan Insaaf’ rallies in Mohali, Badal urged women to unite and start ‘thikri pehra’ in villages to prevent the sale of drugs and put pressure on the government to act against drug trafficking.
“This is the time to take things into our own hands if we want to save our sons and the coming generation,” Badal said, referring to the farmers’ protest against the three agricultural laws. She called for a similar collective mobilisation against drugs.
Badal accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to curb drug trafficking and said the situation had worsened under its rule. She alleged that drug peddlers were operating without sufficient fear of the law and criticised the government over what she described as its failure to act against major drug traffickers.
“The Congress used the gun against our youth. This government is using the ‘goli’ of drugs,” Badal said, alleging that drugs were now easily available in the state.
She also questioned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s handling of the drug issue and asked why promises to take action against drug traffickers had not been fulfilled.
Badal said the SAD, if voted to power, would introduce tougher measures against drug traffickers, including changes to the law to restrict bail for eight years and provide for life imprisonment, according to her proposal.
She also accused the AAP government of spending heavily on publicity while failing to address the drug crisis. Her claims about government expenditure and corruption were political allegations and were not independently established in her statement.
On the recently reported Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) case, Badal referred to the Enforcement Directorate’s allegations of irregularities that could have caused a potential loss of nearly ₹10,000 crore. The ED has alleged financial irregularities in GMADA land auctions and linked AAP leaders Satyendar Jain and Manish Sisodia to unofficial meetings with officials. AAP has rejected the allegations as politically motivated.
Badal also raised allegations concerning the handling of cases involving women and called for an independent inquiry into the claims she made during the rally. She further criticised the AAP government over its promise of ₹1,000 per month for women, saying women should receive the amount promised to them.
The Mohali gathering was organised as part of the SAD women’s wing’s ‘Maawan-Dheeyan Insaaf’ campaign, which focuses on women’s rights, safety and welfare. The party had announced the September 26 gathering in Mohali as part of the campaign.
Senior SAD leaders Parminder Singh Sohana and Paramjit Kaur Landran were among those present at the event.