'Our young girls, kids too hooked': Punjab Governor launches anti-drug 'pad yatra' to combat border menace

“No government can eradicate menace of drugs that has been plaguing the border state until every section of society contribute and join their hands with government and police forces for the cause,” said Punjab governor, Gulab Chand Kataria while launching the ‘Pad Yatra’ from Kartarpur Corridor here  on Thursday.

Aimed at spreading awareness against the peril of drugs, he urged the people to make it a “Jan Andolan” (public movement).

Hundreds of children from various schools participated in yatra that culminated at St Francis Convent School after passing through various streets and bazaars of the border town.

He pointed out that during his previous visits to the border village he observed that the drug abuse has assumed alarming propositions and smuggling of narcotics from Pakistan via drones remained a bigger challenge. He said that what is unfortunate is that our young girls and children were also getting hooked to deadly scourge.

While terming it a big conspiracy by Pakistan he said that the neighboring nation was trying to weaken our young generation unleashing a narco-terror war against us and thereby making our country weak.

Speaking to The Tribune over the issue of smuggling of narcotics and weapons via drones from across the border, Kataria pointed out that central government has provided anti-drone system to the border security force while Punjab government has also allocated funds for the same. He pointed out every one including Army, BSF and people is making efforts in this direction, but it has failed to bring desired results.

“In my opinion, every person has to contribute their bit in this common cause and only Punjab government cannot end the menace. Many organisations and NGOs have been making efforts in the past but by launching this Pad Yatra I wanted to bring all of them on a common platform and we would hopefully succeed in it soon,” he said.

On the Yudh Nashe Virudh campaign launched by the Punjab government, he said that the Punjab Police would have to catch the big fishes in the illegal trade and bring desired results.