Mohali, October 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday launched the final phase of the state government’s anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’, by flagging off a bike rally from the historic site of Chapparchiri. The rally will travel across all 23 districts, aiming to mobilise public participation in the fight against drugs and encourage young people to embrace education and sports.
Mann said the campaign must become a people’s movement, stressing that tackling drug abuse and trafficking was not solely the responsibility of the government or police. He appealed to Punjabis from all walks of life to join the effort to protect the state’s youth and restore Punjab’s pride.
The rally will carry suggestion and complaint boxes to gather public feedback on governance and development, as well as information about drug traffickers. Mann urged people to share relevant information through the designated Safe Punjab helpline.
Referring to Chapparchiri’s historical significance and its association with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, the Chief Minister said the courage and determination associated with the site should inspire Punjab’s fight against drugs. He reiterated that the government would not allow drugs to be sold in the state, even secretly.
The campaign also received support from actress Neeru Bajwa and the team behind the Punjabi film Thaapi, who are participating in efforts to raise awareness among young people about the dangers of drug abuse.
Government Cites Enforcement and Rehabilitation Measures
Mann outlined the government’s enforcement efforts, stating that more than 81,000 alleged drug smugglers had been arrested, while 3,900 kg of heroin and 983 kg of opium had been seized. He said the conviction rate in drug-trafficking cases had reached 89%.
According to the Chief Minister, around 15,000 Village and Ward Defence Committees have been formed, involving approximately 1.25 lakh anti-drug volunteers. He added that information received through the Safe Punjab helpline had resulted in 25,339 arrests, while information from Village Defence Committees had led to more than 4,000 FIRs and 5,000 arrests.
Mann said the Punjab Police had conducted more than 75,000 public meetings under the campaign over 17 months. He also reported increased admissions at government de-addiction centres, saying more than 40,000 patients had received treatment and that services were provided free of cost.
He added that skill-development and sports-training programmes had been introduced at de-addiction and rehabilitation centres to support recovery and reduce the risk of relapse. Since March 2025, skill training had been provided at centres in 21 districts, he said.
Focus on Jobs, Education and Sports
The Chief Minister said employment and opportunities for constructive engagement were important to preventing drug abuse. He stated that the government had provided 70,885 government jobs on merit.
Mann also highlighted the state’s drug-prevention programme, which he said had covered around 7.5 lakh students. He urged young people to give up drugs permanently and pursue education and sports.
He said ₹1,791 crore had been allocated to sports, while 3,100 rural sports grounds and 3,000 gyms were being developed. He also credited the ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ initiative with encouraging sporting participation across generations.
Mann referred to Punjab’s contribution to Indian sports, including the leadership of cricketers Shubman Gill and Harmanpreet Kaur and hockey player Harmanpreet Singh. He also paid tribute to sporting legends Milkha Singh, Dara Singh, Balbir Singh and Surjit Singh.
The Chief Minister further announced plans for a world-class film city in Punjab, saying the project would strengthen the Punjabi entertainment industry and create opportunities for artists and professionals. He also highlighted rural development initiatives, including the cleaning and rejuvenation of village ponds.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to the campaign, Mann said the final phase of ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ would rely on sustained enforcement and public participation to work towards a drug-free Punjab.
Cabinet Minister Balbir Singh and other dignitaries were present at the launch.
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