Chandigarh, Punjab Cabinet minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Thursday asserted that the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign is intensifying the fight against drugs through grassroots public participation, adding that stringent action is being taken against smugglers and rehabilitation of people affected by addiction is being ensured.
Goyal said more than 1.26 lakh members had been mobilised through Ward and Village Defence Committees across Punjab, while thousands of drug smugglers had been arrested and illegally acquired properties linked to the drug trade had been demolished.
He said the state government has launched an unprecedented crackdown on the drug supply chain. “The Bhagwant Mann government is working relentlessly on the ground to eliminate the drug menace from the state. Under the ongoing Yudh Nashean Virudh, we have adopted a comprehensive approach that combines public participation, strict action against drug smugglers, and rehabilitation of those affected by addiction. “The circumstances regarding law and order and drug control in Punjab are significantly better than those in states ruled by the opposition. Political parties should examine their own records instead of indulging in political rhetoric and attempting to mislead the people of Punjab,” he asserted. We are committed to delivering on our commitments through concrete action and responsible governance.”
Contrasting the Bhagwant Mann government’s approach with the opposition’s past political actions, Goyal said, “Unlike the opposition, we have neither staged hollow anti-drug marches nor indulged in theatrics by claiming that drugs would be eradicated within just 10 to 12 days.
Our commitment is clear: Punjab must be freed from the menace of drugs,” he said. “Illegally acquired properties of drug peddlers and smugglers are being confiscated and demolished to dismantle their networks and strike at the financial foundations of the narcotics trade,” the minister added. He said the A government’s approach has been to work consistently on the ground and deliver tangible results. Highlighting the Mann government’s broader governance agenda, Goyal said, “The government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has fulfilled the promises made to the people before coming to power.
