Latest news with #WalkforDrug-FreeChandigarh
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann asks youth to find inspiration in sporting icons Milkha Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur, not singers whose lyrics promote drugs
1 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pichincha: AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Aroun... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo 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.
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Don't make singers promoting drugs role models: Punjab CM
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday urged youngsters to reject singers who glorify drugs and instead encouraged them to look up to sport icons, such as the legendary athlete Milkha Singh and cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur, as role models. Speaking at the Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh event along with his Haryana counterpart Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab and Haryana governors Gulab Chand Kataria and Bandaru Dattatraya, respectively, Mann said: 'Today, I can see a revolution against drugs in Chandigarh. Don't make singers who sing songs promoting drugs your role model. Let your ideal be Milkha Singh or Harmanpreet Singh. People of Punjab are famous for joining the army, for wrestling, for kabaddi, and for bhangra. But our fame has faded. If the stone in a ring gets faded, the value of the ring diminishes. If Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh shine, the whole country will shine.' He highlighted his government's 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh (War Against Drugs)', a campaign launched on February 28 that aims to rid Punjab of the drug problem by targeting smugglers and peddlers. Tried to take everyone along: Kataria Earlier, Kataria led the Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh along with Haryana CM Saini. The objective of the event was to prevent youngsters from falling prey to drug addiction. The march began from the Punjab Raj Bhavan in Sector 6 and ended at Tiranga Park in Sector 17 after a stop at the UT Secretariat. Kataria said efforts are underway to fight drug addiction and he wanted to contribute to them. He said several Olympic-level players had joined the walk for drug-free Chandigarh campaign. 'I have tried to take everyone along,' said the governor, who had undertaken a six-day padyatra on April 3 from the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in Dera Baba Nanak town of Gurdaspur district. That march culminated at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 8. He said the border state of Punjab was vulnerable as neighbouring Pakistan was fighting a proxy war by sending drugs to create problems in India. During the march, he urged citizens to make the campaign against drugs a people's movement. Meanwhile, the Punjab government also launched an anti-drug awareness campaign, 'Nasha Mukti Yatra', on May 2, that will cover every village and ward of the state in May and June. Haryana CM seeks better coordination 'So many youngsters are going towards the direction of drugs, there are challenges in front of us, including social media. We need to stay away from this in order to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Viksit Bharat vision, which is why this event has been organised in Chandigarh,' Saini told reporters at the event. He emphasised the importance of coordination between the states and enforcement agencies to address the growing drug menace. 'The people of Haryana, Chandigarh, and Punjab are doing commendable work in this direction. If the police take action against illegal drug trafficking in any particular state, the drug dealers start moving towards the neighbouring states. This problem can be stopped if various states and enforcement agencies work together in coordination. I believe the Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh administrations need to coordinate better for this. I have full faith that together we will eradicate this addiction from its roots,' Saini added. (With ANI inputs)
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Kataria to lead ‘Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh' on May 3
To tackle menace of drugs in Chandigarh, UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria will lead the 'Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh' on May 3. Addressing media on Wednesday, Kataria said the primary aim of the event is to raise awareness among the youth about the dangers of drug addiction and work towards making Chandigarh the first drug-free city in India. The march will see participation from a wide spectrum of society. The dignitaries invited include the governors of Haryana and Punjab, the union minister for social justice and empowerment, chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana, members of Parliament, and senior officials from both states. Eight separate marches will be held across the city, culminating at Tiranga Urban Park, Sector 17. The education department has planned various awareness activities in schools ahead of the event. Around 2,500 students from GMSSS schools in Sectors 16, 18, 22, and 23 will march to the central venue, along with 1,500 NSS and college students from different locations. Another 500 students will gather at Chandigarh secretariat, Sector 9, while 100–150 students from each educational institution will rally in their local areas with anti-drug placards. In total, over 5,500 participants, including ex-servicemen, RWA members, volunteers and government employees will join the initiative. A live webcast of the event at Tiranga Urban Park will be screened at schools, colleges, Sukhna Lake and Sector 17 plaza, reaching an estimated 1.5 lakh people virtually. A military band performance will be a highlight of the event.
