Police must lead efforts to make Karnataka drug-free: Priyank Kharge

Published 11 August 2026 · politics

The Police Department must take the lead in fulfilling the Chief Minister’s vision of making Karnataka a drug-free State and adopt effective measures to completely

The Police Department must take the lead in fulfilling the Chief Minister’s vision of making Karnataka a drug-free State and adopt effective measures to completely curb the sale and consumption of narcotic substances, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said on Tuesday (August 11). Addressing a government employees’ interaction programme attended by the Chief Minister at Vidhana Soudha’s Banquet Hall, Mr. Kharge said enforcement measures against drugs must be accompanied by sustained public awareness campaigns, particularly targeting the youth. He said the State was already conducting awareness campaigns such as ‘RISE’ and ‘Beda BRO’ to educate people about the harmful effects of drugs. Police officials at the taluk level have been directed to organise similar awareness programmes and reach out to young people and the general public, he said.

‘Follow SOP-based approach’ Kharge also directed officials to adopt a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)-based approach to tackle emerging challenges through advance preparedness and coordination between departments. Referring to the SOP implemented during his earlier tenure as Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister to address drinking water problems during drought conditions, he said departments should be prepared to respond to situations before they escalate. “Instead of looking for solutions after a problem arises, systems must be put in place to manage issues effectively through preventive measures,” he said, stressing the need for proper implementation of existing procedures. ‘Ensure no eligible voter loses voting rights’ Against the backdrop of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being undertaken in Karnataka, Kharge directed officials to create awareness among citizens and encourage eligible voters to verify their names and details in the electoral rolls.

He said that with a large number of voters undergoing verification during the SIR exercise, it was crucial to ensure that not a single eligible voter was deprived of the right to vote. District- and taluk-level information campaigns should be conducted to educate people about the SIR process and guide them on verifying and updating their electoral details in accordance with the Election Commission’s guidelines, he said. “Protecting the rights of eligible voters is a fundamental responsibility of democracy. Extensive awareness must be created so that every eligible voter verifies their name and details and no eligible voter’s name is deleted from the electoral roll for any reason,” Mr. Kharge said.