In a powerful display of Punjab’s resolve to eradicate the drug menace, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday administered an anti-drug pledge to nearly 6,000 students in Ludhiana. The event, part of the ‘Yudh Nashayian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, also saw a massive march past through Ghumar Mandi, symbolizing the state’s united stand against narcotics. 
 
With Punjab’s youth at the forefront, the Chief Minister issued a stern warning to drug peddlers — “We will not let them light deepmala (decorative lights) in their mansions built on the ruins of broken families. Instead, bulldozers will run over their illegal properties.”
 
Mann declared that the Punjab Government has launched a full-scale offensive against drug networks, dismantling supply chains and rehabilitating addicts. It the multi-pronged attack on the drug menace, the government’s bulldozers are demolishing properties of drug lords daily, including a major crackdown in Muktsar Sahib.
 
To encourage public participation, authorities have introduced a confidential WhatsApp helpline (9779100200) for citizens to report peddlers anonymously. Simultaneously, the grassroots movement is gaining momentum as hundreds of village panchayats have passed resolutions declaring themselves ‘drug-free’, reflecting the community's collective resolve to eradicate this scourge from society. “This is not just a police fight — it’s a people’s movement,” Mann emphasized, urging citizens to join hands. 
 
Kejriwal, addressing the gathering, blamed previous administrations for Punjab’s drug crisis, accusing them of protecting traffickers for political gains. “For 75 years, no government dared to touch drug mafias. But in just one month, Punjab has shown what real action looks like,” he said, praising CM Mann’s crackdown. 
 
In an emotional appeal, Kejriwal urged students, “Your parents dream of seeing you as IAS officers, doctors, or entrepreneurs. Don’t let drugs destroy those dreams…If you see anyone trapped in addiction, help them. If you spot drug peddlers, report them.”
 
In a powerful display of collective resolve, thousands of students, NCC cadets, and NSS volunteers took a solemn pledge to combat Punjab's drug menace, vowing: “I will never consume drugs, I will help others quit addiction, and I will report drug peddlers to the authorities.” This mass oath-taking ceremony marked a significant step in the state's war against narcotics.
 
Complementing this grassroots movement, the Punjab government has implemented a comprehensive rehabilitation roadmap, establishing Opioid Treatment (OOAT) Centers to provide medical support, creating job opportunities for recovered addicts to ensure their reintegration into society, and developing sports facilities across the State to engage youth in productive activities and steer them away from substance abuse. “We won’t stop until Punjab is completely drug-free,” Mann vowed. 
 
AAP national convener and Delhi’s former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made a heartfelt appeal to Punjab’s youth urging them to reject drugs and safeguard their future. “You are Punjab’s hope…Among you are future CMs, ministers, and entrepreneurs. But drugs threaten to destroy this potential…Previous governments allowed drug mafias to flourish. They ruined generations for money — God will never forgive them,” said Kejriwal.
 
Ensuring strict action against peddlers, he said that palaces built with drug money were being bulldozed and “this is just the beginning”. He added, “Punjab Police is cracking down hard. No peddler will be spared.”
 
With folded hands and an emotional tone, Kejriwal appealed, “As your father or elder brother, I beg you — do not fall into this trap of drugs.”
 
He urged them to intervene if they see friends or relatives struggling with addiction, assuring them that “your identity will remain protected” if they report peddlers.
 
Over 6,000 students, including NCC and NSS volunteers, took a historic pledge against drugs, strengthening the Punjab Government’s ongoing ‘Yudh Nashayian Virudh’ campaign. The event witnessed massive public participation as thousands of students marched through Ghumar Mandi, rallying locals to join the fight against narcotics, while 1,000 police personnel ensured tight security for the event.
 
At the grassroots level, village panchayats are actively declaring themselves ‘drug-free'’, with citizens proactively reporting peddlers in their communities. AAP Punjab unit in-charge Manish Sisodia commended the youth's involvement, stating, “Your pledge today will shape Punjab's future. This isn't just the government's battle, it's society's collective responsibility.”