Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann urges people to join fight against drugs and corruption
Patiala: Punjab chief minister
on Sunday called upon the people to come forward and join the crusade against drugs and corruption to make it a mass movement.
While addressing the gathering during a function organised by Aggarwal Sabha here on Sunday, the CM said the state govt has embarked on a war against drugs and corruption, adding that this drive can be successful only with the proactive support and cooperation of the people.
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He said this is the fight for coming generations and cannot be won without the support of the common man. Mann exhorted the people to extend wholehearted support for this noble cause, further transforming it into a mass movement, to make Punjab a progressive and frontrunner state in the country
The CM said the bulldozer drive to demolish the properties of the drug smugglers will continue until a logical conclusion is reached.
He said the action is being taken as per the law of the land and it is aimed at ensuring that the drug trade is dealt a fatal blow.
Soliciting fulsome support and cooperation of people in the war against drugs, the CM said the scourge of drugs was a blot on the face of the state and it took more than two years for the state govt to chalk out a strategy for wiping out this curse. He said that subsequently, the supply line of drugs was snapped, big fishes involved in these heinous crimes were put behind bars, rehabilitation of the drug victims was ensured, and even the property of the drug smugglers was confiscated and destroyed.
He said that now the state govt has launched a war against drugs in the form of Yudh Nasheyan Virudh, the aim of which is to clean the state.
The Chief Minister said that the people of the state have given a thumping majority to the Aam Aadmi Party and it is high time that the people of the state are paid back by progressive policies. He said that though politicians have always tried to divide the people on sectarian lines, the people of the state have always thwarted such attempts.
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Further, Mann said he vehemently raised the issues of water, Yamuna Satluj Link (YSL), high-handedness of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Chandigarh, and others before the Prime Minister during the meeting of Niti Aayog held at New Delhi on Saturday. He said as custodian of the interests of three crore Punjabis, it is his moral duty and he will always do that.
The CM said though the forces inimical to the state are trying hard to create a rift amongst society, they will never be successful in these evil designs.
He said the social bonding in the state is so strong that any seed could grow on the fertile land of Punjab, but the seed of hatred will never germinate here at any cost.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that more than 54,000 jobs have been provided to the youth of the state. He said that all the jobs have been given completely on the basis of merit, without any corruption or nepotism, making the youth an active partner in the socio-economic development of Punjab.
Meanwhile, during his address, national convener of AAP Arvind Kejriwal said the previous regimes not only patronised the drug dealers but they themselves carried out the business in their govt vehicles. However, he said the Mann-led state govt is acting strictly against the drug menace and it will not allow its youth to fall prey to this menace.
The former Delhi CM said he is elated to learn that the backbone of the drug trade has been broken, for which Punjab Police needs a pat.
He said the manner in which this anti-drug campaign has been launched finds no parallel in contemporary Indian history.
He added that there is no dearth of funds for the progress of the state and Rangla Punjab will be a reality soon. He said today students are getting quality education, people are getting quality healthcare facilities, 90% of households are getting free power, and others. Kejriwal said the day is not far when Punjab will emerge as a leader in every field and people will be immensely benefited from it.
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