70,000 drug smugglers arrested in Punjab's 500-day anti-drug drive: Bhagwant Mann
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said his government’s anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, will continue until the menace is wiped out from the
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said his government’s anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, will continue until the menace is wiped out from the state. He said the drive has completed 500 days and asserted that the government has taken strict action against smugglers while also focusing on treatment, rehabilitation and public awareness. Speaking at a meeting with Village Defence Committee volunteers, Mann said 70,000 drug smugglers have been arrested during the campaign and that 1.25 lakh volunteers across 13,000 villages have become the backbone of the movement. He said the fight against drugs would go on until Punjab becomes completely drug-free. Read Full Story Addressing the gathering, Mann said, “Yudh Nashean Virudh has completed 500 days and our Village Defence Committees have completed one year.” He added, “I thank the people of Punjab for turning both these initiatives into a people’s movement.
The day is not far when together these two movements will completely eradicate the menace of drugs from Punjab.” The chief minister said he was indebted to all those serving Punjab in the true spirit and that their determination showed any challenge, however big, could be overcome through collective resolve. “The problem that once appeared insurmountable is steadily coming to an end within 500 days. Many people believed that this curse could never be eliminated, but with the active support of the people we have broken the backbone of this menace,” he said. Mann said the AAP government had ensured treatment for those caught in drug addiction by taking them to de-addiction and rehabilitation centres so they could live with dignity and self-respect.
He also said Punjab, once branded as ‘Udta Punjab’, was now changing into “Padhta Te Tandrust Punjab” as reflected in the state’s top ranking in school education, record JEE and NEET success, and merit-based employment. On education, Mann said Punjab had emerged as the top-performing state in primary and middle-school education because of the state government’s sustained efforts over the last four years. He said the government had upgraded primary and middle-school education, strengthened the overall system, introduced smart classrooms and ensured advanced training for teachers. “Punjab has surpassed Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi to secure the number one position in primary and middle-school education. The latest figures released by NITI Aayog confirm that Punjab now ranks first in the country in this sector,” he added.
The BriefWire