Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann asks youth to find inspiration in sporting icons Milkha Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur, not singers whose lyrics promote drugs
2
Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister
Bhagwant Mann
on Saturday advised youngsters to find inspiration in sporting icons like
Milkha Singh
, hockey Olympians Harmanpreet and Manpreet Singh, and cricketer
Harmanpreet Kaur
, rather than singers who promote drug use in their songs.
Speaking at the 'Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh' event along with Haryana counterpart Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab and Haryana governors Gulab Chand Kataria and Bandaru Dattatraya, Mann also invoked freedom fighters Bhagat Singh and Kartar Singh Sarabha in his appeal for shunning drugs. "Taking inspiration from them, Punjab is today prepared towards making the country free from the scourge of drugs," he said.
He appealed to students to promptly report any drug-related approaches to their parents or teachers and to reject the glorification of drugs in pop culture.
The CM asserted that Punjab will lead the nation in achieving a drug-free society, much like the freedom struggle. He said his govt intensified its
anti-drug campaign
with strict enforcement, community engagement, and youth awareness programmes to break the supply chain of drugs and rehabilitate victims. He also outlined his govt's multi-pronged strategy to tackle the issue, involving strict enforcement, community participation, and youth awareness programmes.
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The chief minister stated that the state government launched the 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh' (War Against Drugs) campaign to combat the drug menace and channel the boundless energy of the youth in a positive direction.
Emphasising the crucial role of youth in building a
drug-free Punjab
, Mann motivated children to become flag bearers in the fight against drugs, stressing that the social evil should be eradicated to ensure a brighter future.
Mann said that the state government already snapped the supply line of drugs and big fishes involved in the drug trade were put behind bars. He said that for the first time, the property of the drug smugglers acquired illegally is being destroyed by the state govt so that it acts as a deterrent for others.
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