Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and National Convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal on Friday gave clarion call to the people of the state to act as watchdogs for checking the menace of drugs to save our coming generations.

Addressing the gathering in a function to administer oath to people, the Chief Minister said that it is heartening to learn that people are saying that things have changed in the villages after the launch of Yudh Nasheyan Virudh. He said that this decisive war against drugs has been meticulously planned and flawlessly executed due to which it is giving desired results. Subsequently, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the drug line was snapped, smugglers were nabbed and rehabilitation of drug victims was ensured.

The Chief Minister said that the state government will not sit idly and watch the smugglers bloom at the cost of the dead bodies and pyres of the drug victims. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has already snapped the supply line of drugs and big fishes involved in this heinous crime have been put behind the bars. He said that for the first time the property of the drug smugglers acquired illegally are being destroyed/ confiscated by the state government so that it acts as a deterrent for others.

In the biggest drug seizure of 2025 amid the ongoing anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police have busted a cross-border Pakistan-ISI controlled narco-smuggling module being operated by UK-based drug handler Lalli with the arrest of his India-based operative and recovered 85 kg heroin from his possession, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said here on Friday.

The arrested operative, identified as Amarjot Singh, alias Jota Sandhu, was using his residence at Bhittewad village in Amritsar as a major stash point for the network.

DGP Yadav said accused Amarjot was working on the behest of his UK-based drug handler Lalli and was receiving drug consignments from cross-border drug smugglers, who were using drones to transport the contraband.

Probe has also revealed that accused Amarjot collected heroin consignments from various border points and distributed them to local suppliers to supply further in different areas of Punjab, he added.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, along with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, launched the ‘Nasha Mukti Yatra’ from Langroya village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar on Friday. The initiative marks a significant milestone in the Punjab Government's comprehensive campaign, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh,’ aimed at eradicating drug abuse from the state. During the event, CM Mann and Kejriwal administered an oath to the residents, encouraging them to become active warriors in the fight against the drug menace.

Commending the efforts of Langroya village, which has declared itself drug-free, CM Mann congratulated the village Panchayat for setting an inspiring example for others. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people of Langroya for their contribution to the government’s anti-drug campaign. CM Mann reaffirmed his commitment to eliminating the scourge of drug addiction from Punjab, stating that the collective will and participation of the people are crucial to achieving this goal.

To eliminate drugs from Punjab entirely, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched a statewide 'Nasha Mukti Yatra' from Langroya village in Nawanshahr. This campaign is part of the Punjab government’s ‘War Against Drugs’ initiative, aimed at raising awareness about drug abuse in every village.

Addressing the public during this event, Arvind Kejriwal said, “Before coming here, I thought people might say that after the ‘War Against Drugs’ initiative, drug use has decreased a bit. But I was overjoyed when people told me their village is now completely drug-free. Drugs are no longer sold here.”

The AAP Government’s 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign against drugs in Punjab received a significant boost on Friday with the launch of the 'Nasha Mukti Yatra' by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal. The campaign kick-started from Langroya village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, which proudly declared itself drug-free, setting an example for the entire state.

Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains, along with MP Malvinder Kang, addressed the media after the launch of this yatra. AAP leader expressed gratitude to the Panchayat and residents of Langroya for their dedicated efforts in eradicating drugs from their village. He highlighted that the government, with the active support of the people, is determined to make Punjab drug-free. Minister Bains said that the 'Nasha Mukti Yatra' is not a political campaign but a social revolution aimed at uniting every Punjabi in the fight against drugs.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) is in no hurry to dilute the decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, a stand taken by the Centre as part of tough measures announced against Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, a top official said on Friday.

The Treaty figured prominently in MoJS monthly report sent to the Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan earlier in the week, indicating a status quo on the suspension.

Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, noted in the monthly report that the IWT shall remain suspended “until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism”.

Zimbabwe have drafted fast bowler Tanaka Chivanga into their squad for next week’s one-off Test against England, starting on May 22 at Trent Bridge. Chivanga comes into the side after Trevor Gwandu was ruled out after suffering a left groin strain during a training session in England.

Chivanga, 31, made his Test debut against the West Indies in February 2023, returns to the national set-up after recovering from an injury sustained during his second and most recent Test played by Zimbabwe - against Ireland in Belfast last year.

Public sector Maharatna company BHEL on Friday declared a net profit of Rs 504.45 crore for the January-March quarter of the financial year 2024-25, which represents a 3 per cent increase compared with the corresponding figure of Rs 489.6 crore in the same period of the previous year.

Sequentially, the company's net profit surged nearly four-fold from Rs 135 crore in the December quarter.

In a step aimed at making Punjab completely drug free, former Delhi Chief Minister and National Convener of Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced to take war against drugs at village and street level with active support of people.

Addressing the gathering at Langroya (SBS Nagar) today, the former Delhi Chief Minister said that the state government has cracked the backbone of drugs and now the day is not far when it will be eliminated soon. He said that the Nasha Mukti Yatra will touch every village and town of the state to galvanize people in this war against drugs, so that Punjab can be made completely drug free. Arvind Kejriwal categorically said that the day is not far when due to the strenuous efforts of the state government, Punjab will not only be drug free but also will be a frontrunner state in the country.

Manchester United stars Harry Maguire, Andre Onana and Diogo Dalot are gearing up for their maiden visit to India, to launch United We Play 2025, the fifth season of its flagship grassroots football initiative.

This is the second time that Apollo Tyres has got current team players to the country, with David De Gea, Anthony Elanga and Donny van de Beek visiting Goa in December 2022.

The three Manchester United current team players will be in Mumbai on May 29 to officially launch and kickstart activities for the fifth season of the United We Play programme. During their first visit to India, the footballers will also engage with supporters and fans of the Club.