Chandigarh, June 26-
Punjab government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday commemorated the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by taking a historic step to intensify the fight against drugs with signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up the Data Intelligence and Technical Support Unit.
The MoU was signed between the Government of Punjab and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Medical Sciences, Mohali, and Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health, Amritsar, in collaboration with the Ananya Birla Foundation.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that this initiative is part of the ongoing war against drugs being led by the Punjab Government adding that this unique initiative by the Punjab Government to establish the Data Intelligence and Technical Support Unit marks a significant step in combating the drug menace in the state. He said that this MoU is part of the broader efforts by the Punjab Government for drug prevention and rehabilitation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Yudh Nasheyan Virudh has snapped the supply line of drugs adding that once this is disrupted, rehabilitating the affected individuals becomes extremely crucial.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has embarked a war against the menace of drugs and corruption adding that this drive can be successful only with the proactive support and cooperation of the people. He said that this is the fight for coming generations and cannot be won without the support of the common man. Bhagwant Singh Mann exhorted the people to extend wholehearted support for this noble cause so that Punjab can be made a progressive and frontrunner state in the country.
The Chief Minister said that the bulldozer drive to demolish the properties of the drug smugglers will be continued till logical conclusion. He said that the action is being taken as per the law of land and it is aimed at ensuring that drug trade is dealt a fatal blow. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this action will be further intensified so as to ensure that the drug is completely wiped out from the state.
Soliciting fulsome support and cooperation of people in the war against drugs, the Chief Minister said that the scourge of drugs was a blot on the face of state and it took more than two years for the state government to chalk out a strategy for wiping out this curse. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that subsequently the supply line of drugs was snapped, big fishes involved in these heinous crimes were put behind the bars, rehabilitation of the drug victims was ensured and even the property of the drug smugglers was confiscated and destroyed. He said that now the state government has launched a war against drugs in the form of Yudh Nasheyan Virudh the aim of which is to clean the state.
The Chief Minister also thanked the founder of the Ananya Birla Foundation Ananya Birla for this noble gesture to join hands with the state government.