Punjab News Daily

Bathinda, June 29

Expressing satisfaction over the success of the Punjab’s ongoing ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday directed Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to further intensify the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign until Punjab is completely freed from the scourge of drugs. 

Chairing a virtual review meeting to assess the functioning of the Village Defence Committees (VDCs), the Chief Minister asserted that the campaign has broken the backbone of the drug menace by snapping supply lines and putting major drug smugglers behind bars. Stressing that there can be no let-up in the drive, he called for stronger grassroots action, greater public participation and confidence-building measures in villages to sustain the momentum and secure a decisive victory against drugs.

Sharing a few snippets from this meeting, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated on X: “Today, from the Lake View Guest House in Bathinda, I chaired an important review meeting through video conference with all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) as part of the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign. Strict directions have been issued to all officers to intensify ground-level action for the complete eradication of drugs. Action against drug traffickers is continuing relentlessly under our Zero Tolerance policy. Saving Punjab’s youth is our highest priority. Let us all unite to make Punjab drug-free and take the state to new heights of progress.”

During this, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “The supply line of drugs has already been snapped and the big fish involved in this heinous crime have been put behind bars. However, the momentum of this campaign has to be maintained and the need of the hour is to intensify it further until Punjab is completely free from drugs.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the members of the Village Defence Committees have been performing their responsibilities effectively and have lodged more than 13,000 complaints against drug smugglers during the last three months alone. “In districts where the Village Defence Committees are comparatively less active, they should be encouraged to actively participate in this mission of public importance. Meetings of Village Defence Committees must be organised every month in every district and I will personally review their performance in monthly state-level meetings,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that drug abuse is a global phenomenon, but nowhere in the world has such a determined and vigorous campaign been launched against it. “In an unprecedented initiative, a 1.50 lakh-strong force of Village Defence Committee members has been constituted to make Punjab drug-free. Public participation is essential because the fight against drugs has to become a mass movement. Drug addiction is a social problem and people’s involvement is equally important for ensuring the sustainability of this campaign,” he added.