Amit Shah Sets December 2029 Deadline for a Drug-Free Punjab, Burns Symbolic ‘Chitta Ravana’

Dussehra is traditionally celebrated as the victory of good over evil. This year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah used that message to highlight one of Punjab’s biggest concerns — the drug trade.

At a Vijayadashami celebration in Ludhiana, Punjab, Shah took part in the burning of a symbolic Ravana representing chitta, a term commonly used in Punjab for heroin and other illicit drug mixtures.

The idea behind the symbolic act was clear: just as Ravana is burned to represent the defeat of evil, the fight against drugs must also be taken forward with determination.

Shah said he had heard since childhood that anyone wanting to see a grand Ravana-burning event should visit Ludhiana. He noted that the local Ramleela committee had been organising the event for around 200 years.

But this year, the celebration also carried a serious message about drug abuse, the loss of young lives and the need to hold those responsible for drug-related crimes accountable.

Families who lost their sons meet the Home Minister

During his visit, Shah met families from three locations in Punjab who had lost their sons in cases connected to the fight against drugs.

Speaking about these meetings, he said the families’ tears, questions and pain were deeply disturbing. His remarks brought attention to the human cost of the drug problem and the suffering of families who have lost loved ones.

Shah also referred to three deaths and said the Punjab government had handed the investigation into one case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

He urged the state government to transfer the other two cases to the CBI as well. He said the Modi government would ensure that those responsible were identified and brought to justice, regardless of how influential they might be.

These are commitments made by the Home Minister; the investigation and evidence will determine who, if anyone, is legally responsible in each case.

Punjab given a deadline: December 31, 2029

One of the biggest announcements in Shah’s address was a deadline for making Punjab free from the drug trade.

He said the government would work towards making the state drug-free by December 31, 2029.

Shah described this goal as a tribute to the three people whose deaths he referred to during his address. The promise is ambitious, and achieving it will depend on effective enforcement, action against drug suppliers, cooperation from the public and support for people struggling with addiction.

The challenge is not limited to catching those who sell drugs. Preventing young people from becoming dependent on substances, helping people access treatment and stopping the networks that supply drugs are also important parts of the problem.

How can people report drug trafficking?

Shah appealed to people in Punjab to share information about the drug trade through the Narcotics Control Bureau’s toll-free helpline.

He said the Modi government would act on information received from the public.

For people who suspect drug trafficking, reporting information to the appropriate authorities can help investigators identify possible suppliers and distribution networks. However, anyone reporting suspected criminal activity should avoid confronting suspected offenders directly.

The exact helpline number and its current operating details should be checked through an official Narcotics Control Bureau source before publication.

Shah says the government has delivered on its promises

In his address, Shah also defended the Modi government’s record, saying it had delivered on major commitments.

He referred to the removal of Article 370 and Article 35A, the government’s efforts against terrorism and its claim that Naxalism had been brought to an end.

He then linked these issues to the fight against drugs, saying the government would now work to eliminate the drug trade as well.

These remarks reflect the government's position. The scale of progress on each issue is a separate matter that must be assessed using evidence and official data.

What does this mean for Punjab?

The symbolic burning of ‘Chitta Ravana’ was intended to turn a familiar Dussehra tradition into a message about a modern social problem.

Shah’s address combined three commitments: a push for a drug-free Punjab by the end of 2029, calls for CBI investigations into two additional deaths, and an appeal for citizens to report suspected drug trafficking.

The key question now is how these promises will be carried out. Punjab’s progress will depend on whether drug supply networks are disrupted, investigations lead to credible outcomes, and people affected by addiction receive the help they need.

For the families who have lost loved ones, the most important outcome will be justice. For the state as a whole, it will be whether the fight against drugs produces lasting change beyond the symbolism of a Dussehra event.