CM Sukhu sounds bugle against drug menace

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday ignited what he described as a “historic public movement” against the deadly drug chitta, turning Shimla’s Ridge into the epicentre of a statewide awakening. Leading the spirited ‘Chitta-Virodh Walkathon’ from the Ridge to Chaura Maidan, the Chief Minister walked shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands — schoolchildren, public representatives, officials, community icons and citizens — who poured onto the streets in an overwhelming show of solidarity.

Before the march began, Sukhu administered an oath to the gathering, urging every individual to stay away from drugs and to safeguard their families and neighbourhoods from addiction. The pledge, he said, was the first step towards reclaiming communities threatened by the rapid spread of narcotics.

Addressing a packed crowd at Chaura Maidan, the Chief Minister declared that Himachal would confront the menace of chitta “collectively and uncompromisingly”, ensuring a stern crackdown on traffickers, peddlers and all those enabling the narcotics trade. He announced that a 1,000-member team of anti-chitta volunteers would soon be constituted as a vital link between the police and the public. Police departments, he added, had already identified drug users and drug suppliers at the panchayat level, setting the groundwork for targeted interventions.

Outlining the government’s multi-pronged strategy, Sukhu revealed that the Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Board was now functional and that a dedicated chapter on drug awareness would be introduced in school curricula. Dope testing has already been made mandatory for police constable recruitment to discourage drug use among aspirants and to set higher standards for law enforcement personnel.

Reiterating his government’s zero-tolerance stance, Sukhu underlined that no individual, “no matter how influential”, would escape accountability. Soon after assuming office, the state invoked the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act to ensure habitual offenders are jailed without delay.

He added that new laws had been enacted for treatment, rehabilitation and tackling organised drug crimes, with provisions ranging from life imprisonment to death penalty, hefty fines up to Rs 10 lakh and seizure of traffickers’ property. “A chitta-free Himachal is not merely a government’s promise, it is a people’s movement,” Sukhu said, urging citizens to take ownership of the mission.

He made a special appeal to mothers and women, calling them the “moral force” capable of awakening society and protecting young lives. Religious institutions, he said, must also lend their voice to amplify the fight against drug abuse.

Highlighting the government’s three-pronged approach, the Chief Minister stressed awareness, prevention through empowered policing and compassion-driven rehabilitation. “Addicted youth are not criminals. They are patients who need care, treatment and societal support.”

After the walkathon, Sukhu interacted with students, explained the long-term damage caused by Chitta, and met parents who had lost children to drugs, assuring them emotional and institutional support.

Ministers Dhani Ram Shandil, Harshwardhan Chauhan, Rajesh Dharmani, Deputy Speaker Vinay Kumar, MLAs, Mayor Surinder Chauhan, religious leaders, senior officials and prominent citizens joined the march, underscoring the collective resolve to push back against the scourge.

Decisive campaign against chitta

Massive ‘Chitta-Virodh Walkathon’ led by CM Sukhu draws thousands

1,000 anti-chitta volunteers to act as bridge between public and police

Drug identification at panchayat level already done

New laws include life term, death penalty, Rs 10 lakh fine, property seizure

Drug awareness to enter school curriculum; dope test mandatory for police recruits

Govt stresses awareness, strict policing, and compassionate rehabilitation

Mothers, youth and religious bodies urged to lead the movement