Shimla, Sept. 16 -- In a renewed public resolve to wipe out drugs from Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday led a mass anti-chitta awareness walkathon at Una, a district bordering Punjab and declared a war against the drug mafia.
The chief minister said those trading drugs and sending youths to death have no place in society. Their only place is in jails. All their properties will be either confiscated or razed to the ground with no exception to anyone, big or small.
Sukhu also appealed to the people of Himachal Pradesh, especially the youth, to actively participate in the decisive fight against drugs and inform the police.
The walkathon at Una began at Indira Stadium and proceeded towards the new bus stand and concluded at the stadium. A large number of students and common people across the district participated in the event with great enthusiasm. Earlier, the Chief Minister administered the anti-chitta pledge to participants, urging them to remain vigilant and support the campaign against drugs.
He was joined by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, the state's Advocate General Anoop Rattan, and several sitting and former MLAs.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that the state government was taking firm and sustained action against the menace of drugs. However, he emphasised that government and police action alone cannot fully address the problem, and that active support and cooperation from every section of society are essential.
The Chief Minister said, 'I want to clearly say from the land of Una that there is no place in Himachal for those who sell chitta and destroy the lives of our youth for money. He said the government's policy was clear and uncompromising when it comes to those involved in the illegal drug trade. Strict action would be taken against people selling chitta and those involved in drug trafficking, in accordance with the law.
At the same time, the government would adopt a compassionate approach towards young people who had already fallen into addiction and extend every possible support to help them recover and return to a normal life.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.