Chandigarh, March 2: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday congratulated the citizens of the state on the first anniversary of ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, a campaign he declared as the largest-ever offensive against narcotics in Punjab’s history. Speaking on the progress of the initiative, Mann stated that the zero-tolerance policy adopted over the last year has fundamentally transformed the state’s approach to the drug menace.
The Chief Minister asserted that the administration’s primary focus has been to dismantle the supply chains that had ruined previous generations. He maintained that the current government has refused to remain idle while smugglers thrived. “Contrary to their predecessors, the Punjab Government has not sat idly and watched the smugglers bloom,” Mann declared, affirming that exemplary action is being taken against those involved in the trade.
Detailed reports from the campaign’s first year show that over 51,000 traffickers have been apprehended, alongside the recovery of significant quantities of heroin and synthetic drugs. Mann stated that the financial impact on the drug trade has been substantial, with ₹16.70 crore in cash seized. He also affirmed that the legal system has been strengthened to ensure a high conviction rate, which reached 88% last year.
Mann noted that the success of the campaign lies in its transition from a government initiative to a popular crusade supported by the common man. He asserted that the government remains committed to safeguarding the youth and will continue its efforts to eliminate the drug pipeline entirely. “The fight of the Punjab Government is to protect Punjab’s young generation and it will continue relentlessly,” the Chief Minister affirmed.
