MOGA, Feb 16 — Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann launched a decisive second phase of the “Yudh Nashean Virudh” campaign on Monday, asserting that the state is successfully dismantling drug networks that were allegedly protected by previous regimes. During a massive oath-taking ceremony for Village Defence Committees (VDCs), the leaders stated that the era of political patronage for traffickers has ended.
Arvind Kejriwal affirmed that for the first time in Punjab’s history, the government is actively pursuing major traffickers, seizing over 2,000 kilograms of narcotics and using bulldozers to demolish the luxury estates of smugglers. He maintained that while people were initially hesitant to report crime due to fear, the transparency of the new VDC mobile application has empowered residents to share information confidentially. The AAP Supremo declared that the growing public trust is a clear sign that the state is moving toward becoming “Nasha Mukt” (drug-free).
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the anti-drug crusade is fulfilling a core promise to erase the social stain of addiction from the state. He affirmed that the government’s multi-pronged strategy includes not only strict enforcement but also constructive prevention through the development of sports grounds in every village. The Chief Minister declared that by providing 63,000 merit-based government jobs, the administration is offering the youth viable alternatives to migration and addiction.
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia observed that the first phase of the campaign resulted in the arrest of 17,000 smugglers, effectively breaking the backbone of the illicit trade. He maintained that the VDCs act as a catalyst for social change, serving as the eyes and ears of the administration at the grassroots level. The event concluded with thousands of participants taking a collective pledge to safeguard their communities and ensure that Punjab remains a land of prosperity and health.
