CM Mann vows to eliminate drugs from Punjab and promote sports

On the second day of the 'Nasha Mukti Yatra' (Drug-Free Campaign), Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann repeated his promise to remove drugs from the state. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is fully committed to making Punjab drug-free and turning it into a vibrant and active state, also known as 'Rangla Punjab'. His main focus is to promote sports, bring industrial growth, and generate more job opportunities for the youth.

Addressing a gathering at Jalalpur village in Hoshiarpur, Mann said that the problem of drugs has been harming Punjab badly and must be removed. Alongside AAP leader and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, he administered an oath to the people, urging them to stay away from drugs. The yatra is a month-and-a-half-long awareness campaign across Punjab.

Mann blamed earlier governments for the drug crisis and accused them of working for personal gain rather than public welfare. He said previous chief ministers acted like kings and never truly understood or addressed the struggles of the common people. In contrast, Mann said he is going from village to village, meeting people, and solving their problems directly.

He also spoke on the issue of water sharing with Haryana. Mann said that earlier leaders gave away Punjab’s water for their own benefit. But now, he promised to protect the state’s water rights. Punjab has improved its canal system and needs the water to support farmers, especially for the upcoming paddy-sowing season.

Building a healthier, more active Punjab

Kejriwal praised Punjab’s fight against drugs and said the government’s efforts are giving people new hope. He talked about strong police action against drug peddlers, tighter controls on drug supply chains, and better de-addiction centres. Kejriwal also announced that a stadium will be built in every village to encourage sports and healthy activities among the youth.

During the campaign, both Mann and Kejriwal continued to visit villages, where they met people and took part in events to spread awareness. They believe that making youth active in sports and giving them employment will keep them away from drugs.

However, the campaign was not free from criticism. The opposition attacked CM Mann for using a helicopter for the yatra. After launching the campaign from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Mann, Kejriwal, and AAP leader Manish Sisodia flew to Jalandhar and then Ludhiana by helicopter.

Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa called the campaign a “flight of hypocrisy.” He said the helicopter belongs to Punjab, but is being used by leaders from Delhi.

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Delhi BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa also criticized Mann. On social media, he accused Mann of turning Punjab into a “transit lounge” for Kejriwal and Sisodia. He said using the state helicopter like a taxi for Delhi leaders was an insult to Punjab’s pride and misuse of public money. Sirsa added that such actions have broken the trust of Punjabis and said the people will not forgive this betrayal.

Despite the political debate, the AAP government said it will continue the campaign with full energy. It wants to make Punjab a clean, strong, and healthy state where young people have opportunities and are free from the trap of drugs.

The Nasha Mukti Yatra continues with many more stops planned across villages, towns, and cities in Punjab.