Ludhiana: Many youngsters unaware about cause behind rally

Students were enthusiastic to be a part of the rally against drugs but many of them were unaware about the motive behind the rally and the reason they have gathered there. The event was supposed to start at 10 am but chief guests reached the venue around 11:30 am and students who had come to the place were left to wait.

Several school and college students and NSS and NCC cadets participated in the rally against drugs, Yudh Nashian Virudh, which was flagged off by Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Ludhiana on Wednesday.

A NCC cadet said he was told that they would be participating in the marathon. “We were asked to walk down to Aarti Chowk from Khalsa College and then made to sit. We again walked back to the college. It was upon reaching there that we came to know that it was a rally against drugs and not a marathon,” he said.

A member of the NSS from a local college said she was surprised to see CM Bhagwant Mann on stage. “I was not aware that he was coming here. It was a pleasant surprise to see him and Arvind Kejriwal on stage,” she said.

NCC cadets, NSS volunteers, school and college Students, along with CM Bhagwant Mann, made three promises and took the oath, “I am the true son of Punjab’s sacred soil. Today, I swear by the soil of Punjab, That I will never consume drugs myself, I will make every effort to keep my friends, family and society away from drugs. Wherever I see drugs being sold, I will raise my voice against it. I will not be afraid. Because in this fight, God is with me. I will choose education, not drugs; I will choose progress, not destruction; and I will choose revolution, not silence. I promise, that I will not rest till the state is free from drugs.”

Mann invoked sacrifices of freedom fighters, quoting Shaheed Rajguru: “We could have lived quietly, our parents also raised us with struggles but we chose the path of revolution.” He urged the people to embrace the spirit of sacrifice and speak up for the betterment of society. Drawing parallels with Kejriwal, an IIT graduate and former IRS officer who left a prestigious job to serve the nation, Mann emphasised that true change demands sacrifice.

If drugs not erased, how will you lead state: Kejriwal to youth

Before flagging off the rally, Kejriwal while addressing the children said: “He feel blessed to be around youngsters and tomorrow these youth are going to lead the state. Someone from this crowd will become the Chief Minister or leading industrialists but if drugs are not erased from the state, how will you lead the state. It is unfortunate that the prior governments have made drugs enter every house of the state for a few bucks but AAP will not tolerate the same.”