Chandigarh, January 21
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-charge and Chief Spokesperson of the Nasha Mukti Morcha, Baltej Pannu, on Wednesday said that the party’s Yudh Nashian Virudh (War Against Drugs) campaign is being carried out in a planned, people-driven and systematic manner across the entire state.
Addressing a press conference at the party office, Pannu said that the Nasha Mukti Morcha team has been divided into five zones, Majha, Doaba and Malwa, with Malwa further divided into Malwa East, Malwa Central and Malwa West, to ensure effective reach and coordination at the grassroots level. Along with Pannu, from Malwa East Anu Babbar, from Malwa Central Lovedeep Sharma and Manjit Singh Raikot were also present in this press conference. Pannu said the Morcha works as an important and active part of the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign.
Explaining the first phase of the campaign, Pannu said AAP reached every village and ward in Punjab to spread awareness against drugs. People were made to take pledges that they would neither consume drugs nor support drug peddlers, including refusing to stand as guarantors for them. He said this phase had a very positive impact, with people of Punjab actively supporting the movement.
Pannu pointed out that according to recent reports, Punjab’s conviction rate in NDPS cases over the last three years stands close to 85 percent, one of the highest so far. He said public awareness and cooperation played a key role in this achievement, making the first phase of the campaign a clear success.
Sharing details of the second phase, Pannu said large-scale padyatras are currently being held across the state as part of continuous awareness efforts. Block-level in-charges have been appointed, daily coordination calls are held with block and district-level volunteers, tasks are assigned every day and reviewed the next day. “This is how systematically our teams are fighting against drugs,” he said.
He added that under the second phase, defence committees have been formed under the name ‘Pind De Pehredar’, with over one lakh volunteers already associated. These volunteers are actively conducting padyatras in villages, towns and wards across Punjab.
Pannu shared that a total of 9,099 padyatras have been held across the five zones so far. In Doaba, 1,969 padyatras were conducted; in Majha, 1,930; in Malwa Central, 1,395; in Malwa East, 2,167; and in Malwa West, 1,618.
Giving zone-wise details, Pannu said in Doaba, padyatras were held in Hoshiarpur (661), Jalandhar Rural (492), Jalandhar Urban (79), Kapurthala (351) and SBS Nagar (386). In Majha, Amritsar Rural saw 472 padyatras, Amritsar Urban 45, Gurdaspur 771, Pathankot 389 and Tarn Taran 253.
In Malwa Central, Faridkot recorded 251 padyatras, Fatehgarh Sahib 312, Ludhiana Rural-1 291, Ludhiana Rural-2 242, Ludhiana Urban 59 and Moga 240. In Malwa East, Malerkotla saw 178 padyatras, Patiala Rural 466, Patiala Urban 412, Rupnagar 394, Sangrur 459 and SAS Nagar 278. In Malwa West, Barnala had 209 padyatras, Bathinda 191, Fazilka 433, Ferozepur 587, Mansa 190 and Sri Muktsar Sahib 8.
Pannu said there is no zone or district in Punjab where the second phase of Yudh Nashian Virudh is not active. “This fight will continue until we uproot drugs completely from Punjab,” he asserted.
He said people from all sections, panchayats, municipal corporations, municipalities and families, are coming forward as active participants in the campaign. Pannu appealed to Punjabis to cooperate with Yudh Nashian Virudh and Nasha Mukti Morcha volunteers, saying they are working only to help society.
Pannu also informed that a dedicated mobile app has now become fully functional. The app can be accessed only by Nasha Mukti Morcha members to report information about drug peddlers. He said the information goes directly to the DGP and the Chief Minister, following which it is verified and strict action is taken. He assured that the identity of the person sharing information remains completely confidential to ensure their safety.