/
Accelerating the anti-drug campaign in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday administered oath to hundreds of Village Defence committees so that they can wipe out drugs from their respective areas, adding that Punjab will be made drug drug-free state by May 31.
Mann, accompanied by state AAP President Aman Arora and Lok Sabha MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal, said that this is a decisive step aimed at making the state free from the scourge of drugs. He said as the Army chalks out a plan before winning the war in the same manner state government has formulated a plan to wipe out drugs from state. Mann said that now the war has been declared and will be won shortly with the active support and cooperation of people.
He said that along with the eradication of drug menace the state government is very serious over the rehabilitation of the drug victims. He said that as a part of this only the capacity of the rehabilitation and drug de-addiction centres has been enhanced by 5000 beds. Mann said that apart from detoxification of the drug victims, these centres will enable them to live a life of dignity and pride by making them self-reliant.
The Chief Minister said drug traffickers are enemies of society who have pushed the youth into the abyss for the sake of their own luxurious lives. He said that these smugglers, who live in lavish homes while others suffer, do not deserve forgiveness. He said that all necessary permissions are being obtained to take action against the top-level traffickers, and they will be held accountable for the pain they caused to widowed women, mothers who lost sons, and sisters longing to tie a rakhi.
Mann stated that no political leader or any other individual involved in drug trafficking, no matter how influential or powerful, will be spared under any circumstances. Referring to the success of the bulldozer action against drug traffickers, he stated that, for the first time, traffickers in villages are approaching Panchayats to repent and promise not to sell drugs again. Citing an example from a village in Bathinda district, he said that when a JCB bulldozer demolished a drug dealer’s house, a woman who had lost her son to drugs distributed sweets and showered flowers on the police — a gesture that reflects the success of the anti-drug mission.
Meanwhile, Mann urged Village and Ward Security Committees to Act as Guardians in the Drug-Free Punjab Campaign. He called upon members of Village and Ward Security Committees to take on the role of vigilant guardians, asserting that with their support, Punjab can be freed from drugs and restored to its former vibrant glory. Referring to the government’s three-pronged strategy to combat drugs, Bhagwant Singh Mann explained that the plan includes strict action against drug traffickers, free treatment for addicts, and skill-based rehabilitation to help affected individuals rejoin society with dignity and respect.
Administering an oath to these guardians, the Chief Minister urged them to pledge that no form of drug will be allowed to be sold in their villages or wards. He further called on them to commit to taking addicts to rehabilitation centers and to oppose bail for drug traffickers, either for themselves or on behalf of others. Thanking the panchayats for their overwhelming support of the campaign, Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted that more than 200 panchayats have passed anti-drug resolutions daily.
Mann promised that drug-free panchayats would be given special grants to develop as model villages, serving as an inspiration for others. He also praised the significant contributions of women in making this campaign a huge success. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Curse of drugs can be wiped out only with the active support and cooperation of every section of the society.