Shimla, September 16:- Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today led the Anti-Chitta Public Awareness Walkathon organised in Una and called upon the people of the state, particularly the youth, to actively participate in the decisive fight against drugs. The walkathon started from Indira Stadium, proceeded to the New Bus Stand and returned to Indira Stadium, where it concluded. Students and members of the general public from across the district participated in it enthusiastically. Before the walkathon, the Chief Minister administered the Anti-Chitta pledge to those present.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the state government was fighting against drugs with full strictness, but the cooperation of every section of society was essential to make this fight successful. He said that he wanted to clearly tell from the land of Una those people who were earning money by selling Chitta to our children, destroying the lives of youth and filling their own homes with money, that there was no place in Himachal Pradesh for those involved in the drug trade.
Mr. Sukhu said that the government’s policy was clear. Strict action would be taken under the law against those selling Chitta and those involved in the drug trade. At the same time, young people who had fallen into the grip of drugs would be treated with sensitivity and every possible assistance would be provided to help them come out of addiction. He said that a person selling drugs and a person trapped in drug addiction could not be viewed in the same manner.
He called upon the youth of Himachal Pradesh not to allow any of their companions to go down the path of Chitta. A friend is closest to his or her companion and can identify changes in their behaviour first. The Chief Minister said that a little vigilance on your part could save someone’s son, save someone’s daughter and prevent a family from breaking apart. He said that a true friend is one who, instead of leading a companion towards drugs, holds their hand and prevents them from going down the wrong path.
The Chief Minister said that the police were performing their duties according to law. Continuous action was being taken against Chitta networks, but this fight against drugs could not be won with the police alone. The police could catch a trafficker and the government could make laws, but it was the family, friends, teachers and society that could prevent a child from trying drugs for the first time. He said that with this thinking, the state government had turned the fight against drugs into a people’s movement.
Mr. Sukhu said that in this fight, he needed the support of every mother, every father, every teacher, every panchayat, every Mahila Mandal, every Yuva Mandal and, above all, the youth of Himachal, along with the police. “I am entrusting this responsibility to the youth of the state today.” Calling upon the youth to become soldiers of this campaign, he said that wherever Chitta was seen being sold, people should not remain silent and should provide reliable information on the toll-free number 112. The state government had also made arrangements for rewards to encourage those providing reliable information.
The Chief Minister said that the state government’s resolve was clear that Himachal Pradesh would not be allowed to bow before Chitta. He said that the Anti-Chitta campaign had been launched about nine months ago with the same resolve. On November 15, 2025, thousands of people took to the streets in Shimla; on December 1, Dharamshala raised its voice; on December 16, the youth of Hamirpur gave new energy to the campaign; and on December 26, thousands of people in Bilaspur walked shoulder to shoulder to convey the message that the entire Himachal Pradesh was united in the fight against Chitta.
The Chief Minister said that today, nearly nine months later, people had gathered in Una with the same resolve. He said that they had not gathered here merely to walk in a walkathon; they were walking for their children and families and for the future of Himachal Pradesh. He said that today, the youth and society of Himachal Pradesh were awakening. When society awakens, no drug, mafia or evil can stand before it.
Mr. Sukhu said that despite temperatures ranging from 35 to 40 degrees, students had arrived from far-off places to participate in the walkathon and their enthusiasm was commendable. He thanked Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, MLAs Rakesh Kalia, Sudarshan Bablu and Vivek Sharma, as well as all the officials, for the successful organisation of the event.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister announced a holiday in all government and private schools in Una district on September 17.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the multi-storey Block Development Office building in Una, constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.87 crore, and laid the foundation stone of the Rampur Bridge to be constructed on the Santoshgarh road at a cost of Rs. 9.55 crore.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, MLAs Sudarshan Bablu, Rakesh Kalia and Vivek Sharma, Congress leader Satpal Raizada, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Caste Commission Kuldeep Kumar, members Vijay Dogra and Digvijay Malhotra, Anti-Chitta Board Coordinator Naresh Thakur, Co-Coordinator Sanjay Bhardwaj, Chairman Digvijay Sharma, Advocate General Anup Rattan, District Congress President Deshraj Gautam, Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari, besides other officials and dignitaries, were present on the occasion.