Drug abuse a threat to ‘Punjab’s identity’, says BJP president
You don’t have any Active Subscription.
Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription
BJP National President Nitin Nabin, second right, BJP Punjab President Kewal Singh Dhillon, second left, and others during the inauguration of 'Drug-Free Punjab Journey', in Pathankot. Photo credit: X/NitinNabin via PTI
With Punjab elections due in 2027, the BJP has sought to place the focus on the drug menace in the State with the launch on Friday of its 13-day statewide ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras’ campaign that will highlight the problem of substance abuse.
Asserting that drugs should not define Punjab’s identity, the BJP’s national president Nitin Nabin, who flagged off the first ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’ from Pathankot, said there was an urgent need for a decisive fight against drugs by turning the fight into a people’s movement.
“The people seek a rising Punjab, not an Udta Punjab, the time has come for a decisive fight against those who, using the power of their offices, have promoted corruption and worsened the law-and-order situation, ruining Punjab through drugs,” he alleged while addressing the gathering.
Mr. Nabin said the the BJP’s core strategy in its fight against drugs would include targeting drug traffickers, breaking the supply network, confiscating proceeds, rehabilitation of people affected by addiction, and taking the campaign forward with society’s support.
“Today is a very special day. I have come to connect with the pain being experienced in households across Punjab. I have come from Patna, the land associated with Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, to take the message of de-addiction to every Punjabi,” he said.
Mr. Nabin said the BJP always stood by promises it made. “We undertook a long struggle to fulfil our commitment to abrogate Article 370 and worked to eliminate terrorism and Naxalism,” he emphasised.
He said that the BJP resolved on August 2 to eliminate drugs from the country. “I have come with a message from PM Modi to begin this campaign from Punjab’s soil. The BJP’s track record is established, and we will also eliminate drugs,” he said.
“Drugs cannot become Punjab’s identity. The State’s identity should be its heritage, ideas and youth. He said its identity had traditionally been associated with the Gurus, the sweat of farmers, and the spirit of sportspersons. The people of Punjab, he said, would lead the fight against drugs themselves,” he added.
Hitting out at the AAP government, Mr. Nabin said, “The people in power in the State changed Punjab’s identity and are destroying its future generations.” He alleged that the Punjab Government had treated the fight against drugs as a means to political power and failed to understand people’s pain.
He said, the Government wanted to silence people speaking out against drugs but warned that the government should know that the voices of Punjab could not be silenced.
Mr. Nabin said that ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras’ “Would connect the people with the anti-drug campaign, forums for dialogue, and social organisations,” he added.
The campaign will culminate in Jalandhar on September 30, after covering all 117 assembly constituencies in Punjab.
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
