Chandigarh/Phagwara, Jan 8: Expanding its anti-narcotics campaign into a statewide public mobilisation, the Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday rolled out Phase II of ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, with party leaders claiming significant gains during the first phase and vowing to eliminate drugs from Punjab.
Launching the second phase at Phagwara, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said Punjab had created history through unprecedented action against drug networks. “In just ten months, 28,000 NDPS cases were filed and 88 per cent resulted in imprisonment. These figures prove that the action was real, not cosmetic,” he said.
Kejriwal said nearly 42,000 smugglers had been arrested and major trafficking networks dismantled. “Earlier, governments lacked courage. This government arrested even the most powerful drug lords and demolished their properties,” he said.
The AAP leader said Phase II would rely heavily on Village Defence Committees, describing them as the backbone of the campaign. “One and a half lakh volunteers have joined. They will report drug activity through a dedicated app, with their identities fully protected,” he said.
He announced padyatras across villages and urban wards from January 10 to 30 to widen public participation and said a missed-call number had been issued for citizens willing to join the movement.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the government had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against traffickers while expanding treatment and rehabilitation for addicts. “Drug addicts need sympathy and care. Smugglers deserve strict punishment,” he said.
Mann also took aim at opposition parties, saying they were “daydreaming” about returning to power. “While we are focused on welfare and have provided over 61,000 jobs, the opposition has nothing to offer Punjab,” he said.
The Chief Minister said Phase II would be decisive. “We have broken supply lines, strengthened de-addiction infrastructure and involved the people. This campaign will continue until Punjab is completely drug free,” he added.
