New Delhi, Aug 3 (JKNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that enemy countries are using the supply of drugs as part of their terror strategy to weaken India, asserting that the nation’s youth must remain mentally and physically strong to build a developed India.
Launching the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ virtually, the Prime Minister urged young people across the country to take a pledge against substance abuse, warning that while drugs may provide a temporary “high”, they ultimately destroy careers, families and lives.
“Enemy countries use the supply of drugs as part of their terror plans because they know that the youth are the future of our country,” Modi said, adding that addiction weakens not only individuals but also the nation.
He said drugs take away a mother’s smile, shatter a father’s dreams, weaken a sister’s hope and rob a younger brother of respect, stressing that the pain of addiction is borne by entire families.
The Prime Minister called upon society to change its attitude towards those recovering from addiction, saying people who overcome substance abuse are fighters and deserve respect and a second chance.
“Society should respect them, embrace them and give them a second chance,” he said.
Modi said the 100-week nationwide campaign will witness awareness and community programmes every Sunday across the country, including sports events, meditation sessions, cultural activities, walkathons, discussions, street plays and public outreach initiatives to spread the message of a drug-free India.
“The coming 100 Sundays will mark 100 strong steps towards a drug-free India,” the Prime Minister said.
Highlighting the government’s crackdown on narcotics, Modi said authorities have significantly increased action against drug traffickers, with arrests rising sharply and drugs worth thousands of crores of rupees being seized across the country.
He also appealed to parents not to hide cases of addiction due to social stigma, urging families to openly communicate with affected children and seek professional medical assistance.
The ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ aims to inspire youth to stay away from drugs and become ambassadors of positive social change, while promoting public participation in creating a drug-free society.
The campaign is part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in 2020, and seeks to strengthen awareness and community participation in eliminating substance abuse from the country. (PTI/JKNS)