Chandigarh - Amit Shah's anti-drug pitch from Union Territory. On Sunday, Home Minister Amit Shah said Chandigarh will be India's first drug-free city, with policy to be implemented across country, as part of Nasha Mukt Bharat.
He said Chandigarh Police has registered 8,200 NDPS cases, 8,500 arrests since 2019, seized drugs worth Rs 1,000 crore, conviction rate improved from 30% to 65% due to special NDPS courts. Chandigarh's 12 lakh population, student city, borders Punjab - drug transit point.
Shah said Centre's 2026 drug-free India policy includes mapping darknet, drone surveillance on Punjab border, de-addiction centres in every district, Rs 500 crore fund.
Analytically, drug-free city claim ambitious. Chandigarh's demand - 10% youth use - supply from Punjab's Golden Crescent route. Police action alone insufficient without rehabilitation. Chandigarh has only 2 de-addiction centres for 1 lakh addicts
National policy - 2023-26 - seized 10 lakh kg drugs, but NCRB shows youth drug deaths rose 15%.
Shah's announcement before 2027 Punjab polls - BJP wants to own drug-free narrative, counter AAP's failure to make Punjab drug-free by May 2026 promise.
Need: demand reduction, employment, not just enforcement. Chandigarh as model - if succeeds, can be replicated in Goa, Delhi.
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