"Mission of everyone": Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on 'Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh' initiative

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], May 3 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday praised Chandigarh's 'Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh' initiative, led by Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, calling it a mission for all and reaffirming his government's commitment to eradicating drug abuse in Punjab.
"This is a mission of everyone...in Punjab also, we have initiated a drug-free campaign. In Chandigarh, a great initiative has been taken...I congratulate the Governor for this initiative", Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann told reporters after the 'Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh' event.
Addressing the crowd, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said that today, he can see a "revolution" against drugs in Chandigarh and urged the youth to reject artists who glorify drugs. Instead, he encouraged them to look up to sports icons such as Milkha Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur as role models.
Mann further added that if the whole of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh shine, then the whole country will shine.

"Today I can see a revolution against drugs in Chandigarh... Also, don't make the singers who sing songs promoting drugs your role model. If you want a role model, let it be Milkha Singh or Harmanpreet Singh... People of Punjab are famous for joining the army, for wrestling, for kabaddi, and for bhangra. But our fame has faded... If the stone in a ring gets faded, then the ring's value diminishes. If Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh shine, the whole country will shine", Bhagwant Mann said.
Mann also highlighted that his government has launched a dedicated campaign against drugs across Punjab.
Earlier in the day, Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria led the 'Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh' initiative in Chandigarh along with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. The main objective of the event is to prevent the youth from drug addiction.
"So many youths are going towards the direction of drugs, there are challenges in front of us, including social media...we need to stay away from this in order to achieve PM Modi's Viksit Bharat...that's why this event has been organised here", CM Saini told reporters.
Meanwhile, Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria said that efforts have been underway to reduce drug addiction, and he wanted to contribute to them. He added that many Olympic players joined the 'Walk for Drug Free Chandigarh' campaign.
"Efforts have been going on for de-addiction for a long time... I also wanted to contribute to this... Today, many Olympic players have also joined it. I have tried to take everyone along", he told ANI. (ANI)