Ludhiana- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led a massive oath-taking ceremony in Ludhiana as part of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government's ‘Yudh Nashayian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from thousands of NCC, NSS, and school students, demonstrating the commitment of Punjab’s youth towards eradicating drug abuse.
Addressing the gathering, CM Bhagwant Mann expressed his deep concern over the drug menace in Punjab and emphasized that the battle against drugs is not just the responsibility of the police but a collective fight requiring a mass movement. He lauded the participation of Punjab’s youth in the campaign and appreciated the Panchayats across villages for proactively passing resolutions to make their villages drug-free.
NCC Cadets, NSS Volunteers, School and College Students, along with CM Bhagwant Mann, 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 until Punjab is free from drugs."
CM Mann highlighted the transformational governance model of AAP’s National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who successfully ruled the national capital for a decade, eliminating various societal issues. He praised AAP’s former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia for revolutionizing Delhi’s education system, turning government schools into global benchmarks, and former Health Minister Satyendar Jain for pioneering the Mohalla Clinic concept, which has now gained international recognition. Mann also acknowledged Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora for utilizing his entire MP fund for the welfare of hospitals and schools in Ludhiana.
CM Mann said that the fight against drugs has to be a people’s movement. “Every day, village Panchayats are passing resolutions, committing to keep their villages drug-free. If any drug trafficker enters, the villagers are pledging to report them to the police, ” he stated.
He urged the people of Punjab to support this mission by sharing any drug-related information on the dedicated WhatsApp helpline number 9779100200, assuring that the identity of informants will remain confidential.
Reiterating the government’s resolve, CM Mann asserted that his administration will not allow drug traffickers to flourish. He warned those who amassed wealth by destroying families through drugs, stating that their illegally acquired properties would face bulldozer action. “Every day, bulldozers are running over the mansions built with drug money. Just yesterday, bulldozers were demolishing properties in Muktsar, ” he added.
He cautioned that the drug problem could affect any family, urging collective responsibility to eliminate the menace before it spreads further. CM Mann acknowledged that merely cracking down on drug supply chains is not enough; a comprehensive plan is needed to rehabilitate addicted youth. He said that his government came up with a holistic plan and prepared in advance. “We knew when supply chains are disrupted, those already addicted will suffer. So we have well-equipped rehabilitation centers, adequate medical facilities, education opportunities, and employment options to prevent them from falling back into addiction, ” he explained.
He assured that his government is working on a structured plan to rehabilitate addicts by providing them with necessary medical treatment, education, and job opportunities to reintegrate them into society.
CM Mann invoked the 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 of Punjab to embrace the spirit of sacrifice and speak up for the betterment of society. Drawing parallels with Arvind Kejriwal, an IIT graduate and former IRS officer who left a prestigious job to serve the nation, Mann emphasized that true change demands sacrifice.
CM Mann announced that the drug-free oath campaign would be expanded across Punjab, with students from schools, colleges, NCC, and NSS units taking an active role. “Slowly but surely, every young person in Punjab will take an oath against drugs, making it a collective movement, ” he declared.
He extended his gratitude to Punjab Police for their dedication and relentless efforts in the fight against drugs. “This is a long battle, but we will not stop until Punjab is completely free of drugs, ” he concluded, reaffirming his government’s commitment to building a drug-free Punjab.