Chandigarh, May 3- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today stated that just as the state played a leading role in India’s freedom struggle, it will also spearhead the battle to rid the nation of the menace of drugs.
Addressing a gathering during a foot march against drugs, the Chief Minister said that Punjab played a pivotal role in liberating the country from foreign imperialism. He said martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, and other national heroes paved the way for independence. Inspired by them, Punjab is now ready to lead India in eradicating drugs.
He said this land has given birth to generals, patriots, and top athletes, who have inspired youth to serve the nation. Mann stressed that students participating in this anti-drug march should take a firm pledge to eliminate the threat of drugs from society. Emphasizing the vital role of youth, he urged them to become flagbearers in this fight and said this social evil must be rooted out for a bright future.
The Chief Minister appealed to students to report to parents or teachers if anyone attempts to influence them with drugs and to stay away from singers who glorify drugs in their music. Instead, he advised them to take inspiration from legends like Milkha Singh, hockey Olympians Harmanpreet and Manpreet Singh, and cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur.
He highlighted that the Punjab government has intensified its anti-drug campaign by cracking down on supply chains, aiding victims in rehabilitation, promoting communal participation, and launching youth awareness programs.
Mann said the state has launched a "War Against Drugs" and is channeling the boundless energy of youth in a positive direction. It is crucial to protect future generations from this evil as Punjab has already suffered immense human loss due to drugs. He said the campaign, launched with active public participation, aims to eradicate this menace from the state.
He asserted that the government will not let smugglers thrive at the cost of drug victims’ lives and funeral pyres. The supply chains have already been dismantled, and the big fish involved in the heinous crime have been jailed. For the first time, illegally acquired properties of drug traffickers are being seized and destroyed to deter others from getting involved.