Punjab, Haryana Chief Ministers share stage to free Chandigarh of drug menace

Even as the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana disagree publicly over sharing river waters, both came together today to join Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria in his initiative of freeing Chandigarh, joint capital of both states, of drugs.

In a rare display of bonhomie, the otherwise “warring” CMs — Bhagwant Mann and Nayab Saini — shared the dais with Kataria to launch a war on drugs to make Chandigarh the first drug-free city of the country.

Lauding Kataria’s initiative, both CMs called it a ‘revolution’ as over 2 lakh students and teachers from over 200 schools of the city and Panjab University, along with eminent personalities from different walks of life and religious gurus, took out a ‘padyatra’ (walk) from the UT Secretariat in Sector 9 to Tiranga Park in Sector 17 here this morning. They spread awareness against the drug menace.

Kataria (80), who had earlier led a similar initiative in the border belt of Punjab, led the walk.

Cutting across party lines, both CMs, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, Rajya Sabha MPs Satnam Singh Sandhu and Vikramjit Sahney shared the dais.

UT Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma, Principal Secretary to Governor VP Singh, UT Education Secretary Prerna Puri, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, senior officials of UT Administration, leaders of various religious sects and PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Renu Vig also participated in the mega event. A large numbers of students raised anti-drugs slogans while marching on the roads and streets early in the morning.

Speaking on the occasion, Mann urged the youth to idolise sportspersons such as the late Olympian Milkha Singh, Indian women cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh instead of singers and artists who promote drugs through their songs and movies.

Referring to his government’s ongoing “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh” (anti-drugs campaign), Mann said strict action was being taken against smugglers and peddlers under zero tolerance for drugs.

“Don’t make singers and artists who sing songs and make movies that promote drugs as your role models. Make sportspersons such as Olympian Milkha Singh, Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh your role models,” said the Punjab CM, giving a clarion call to the youth.

Mann stressed that the anti-drugs campaign should be turned into a people’s movement, for which he extended full support from the Punjab Government.

“People of Punjab are famous for joining the Army, wrestling, kabaddi and for bhangra. But our fame has faded in the recent past due to the scourge of drugs... If the stone in a ring gets faded, then the ring’s value diminishes,” he said, while adding that if Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh shine, the whole country will shine.

In his address, the Haryana CM sought a coordinated and joint operation by Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh to free the entire region of drugs. “When one state tightens grip against drugs or any other crime, the smugglers and criminals tend to take shelter in neighbouring states/UT,” he said, while calling for a united front.

Seeking the support of people in the fight against drugs, Saini said society had to come forward against this menace. “NGOs, traders’ bodies and other citizens should go door-to-door and raise awareness against drugs. We can together resolve this issue,” he said, while sharing the details of his government’s anti-drugs campaign.

“From Panchkula to Palwal and Sirsa to Faridabad, awareness rallies have been held in every corner of the state,” he said. His government was acting firmly against drug smugglers. A special task force has been set up for this purpose besides establishing rehabilitation centres for drug addicts in the state.

“So many youths are getting addicted to drugs, there are challenges in front of us, including social media... We need to stay away from this menace in order to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047,” Saini asserted.

Expressing gratitude towards all those who participated in the event, Kataria said a sustained campaign had been launched to check the menace and make Chandigarh the first drug-free city of the country through awareness, education and enforcement under zero-tolerance approach to drugs.

Seeking wholehearted support of each and every section of society in this war on drugs, he said, “I want to see Chandigarh free of drugs and we will do everything to achieve this goal with the support of the public at large.”