JALANDHAR
Accelerating the anti-drug campaign in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh 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.
The Chief Minister, accompanied by state AAP President Aman Arora and LOk SABHA MP Dr 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 the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that now the war has been declared and will be won shortly with the active support and cooperation of people.
The Chief Minister said that along with the eradication of the drug menace, the state government is very serious about the rehabilitation of the drug victims.
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. Bhagwant Singh Mann 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.
The Chief Minister clearly 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, Bhagwant Singh Mann 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.
The Chief Minister urged Village and Ward Security Committees to act as Guardians in the Drug-Free Punjab Campaign. 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.
of every section of the society.
Condemning the central government’s attempts to deprive Punjab of its water resources, the Chief Minister asserted that his government has fiercely defended the state’s rights, preventing a single drop of water from being diverted to any other state. He said that, unlike previous governments that silently handed over surplus water to neighboring states, his government has taken a firm stand, as water is vital to Punjab’s survival. Bhagwant Singh Mann mentioned that the government has revived long-defunct canals, water courses and distributaries, which has significantly increased canal water supply for agriculture.
The Chief Minister pledged that he would not shy away from any sacrifice necessary to protect Punjab’s interests. He said that every action of his government is aimed at safeguarding the interests of the state, and no stone will be left unturned for that. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government accords paramount importance to the rights of the people and they will not be compromised at any cost.
Touching upon the decision to advance the paddy sowing season to June 1, the Chief Minister said the move is aimed at avoiding excessive moisture in September and October, which often causes problems for farmers in selling their crops. He also shared that a massive road network project has been launched, involving 19,000 kilometers of link roads, with a total cost of ₹3,500 crore. For the first time in the history of the state, using artificial intelligence, 1,200 kilometres of roads that existed only on paper were identified, leading to savings of ₹250 crore, added Bhagwant Singh Mann.