From ‘Udta Punjab' to ‘Badalta Punjab': Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann vow to end drug menace at grassroots level
Addressing a public gathering, Kejriwal lauded the Bhagwant Mann-led state government for the success of its campaign 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh'. He said that villages once known as drug hotspots were now transforming into drug-free zones, thanks to sustained efforts on the ground. 'Earlier, Bollywood made films about Punjab's drug problem. Today, youth from those very villages are excelling in sports,' he said.
Kejriwal contrasted the present with previous regimes, alleging that earlier ministers had protected and even facilitated drug lords. 'Drugs were sold in government vehicles,' he claimed. 'Now, police are seizing narcotics by the quintal, and taking strict action. Over 10,000 drug smugglers have been arrested, including 8,500 'big fish'.'
He said the fight against drugs came with personal risk. 'Drug smugglers are dreaded criminals, but we have taken action without fear. Even if we die, we will not let drugs survive in Punjab.
The AAP leader added that the properties of drug traffickers were being confiscated and destroyed. With Yudh Nasheyan Virudh now becoming a mass movement, he called on people to join the fight. 'This campaign will reach all 13,000 villages of Punjab. Ground-level interactions will be held across the state.'
Kejriwal also announced that to channel the energy of the youth, a stadium would be built in every village and 3,000 gyms would be constructed in larger villages to promote sports. He added that 54,000 government jobs were already given to youths and the government was working on a plan to ensure employment in every village.
Later in the day, Kejriwal and Mann jointly launched the Nasha Mukti Yatra from Langroya village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district — a symbolic move in the state's anti-drug campaign. Langroya, which has declared itself drug-free, was hailed by Mann as a model for other villages.
Administering an oath to residents to stay drug-free and support others in rehabilitation, Mann said that wiping out the drug menace required collective effort. Under the campaign, gram sabhas are being organised in 351 villages daily — three per Assembly constituency — to raise awareness, encourage the use of de-addiction centres, and aid rehabilitation.
The chief minister said the state government had taken time to build a thorough strategy. 'We have disrupted supply chains, arrested major traffickers, rehabilitated victims, and seized drug-related assets,' he said. 'Langroya's success must be replicated across the state.'
Mann praised the strong participation of women at the event, calling it a hopeful sign. 'When women rise against a menace, its end is inevitable,' he said. 'The day is not far when Punjab will be completely drug-free.'
Touching on wider developmental goals, Mann said the government was committed to improving education and health infrastructure. 'Earlier, sending children to government schools was a compulsion; now it's a choice,' he said, pointing to the establishment of Schools of Eminence across the state.
He also said that Punjab needed to retain its water to meet the demands of the upcoming paddy season. Referring to the SYL canal issue, Mann reiterated that Punjab did not have a drop of water to spare. 'Previous governments gave away our resources for personal gain. We are here to protect them.'
Asserting that the youth are now active partners in the state's development, Mann said, 'All 54,000 jobs have been given purely on merit. No bribes, no nepotism.'
He concluded by urging all Punjabis to walk in the footsteps of the state's great gurus, saints, and martyrs. 'They taught us to fight injustice. This crusade against drugs is our way of honouring their legacy.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
23 minutes ago
- India.com
Rajinikanth And Kamal Haasan Reunite Ahead Of Superstars Oath Taking Ceremony In Rajya Sabha
Mumbai: Acclaimed actor Kamal Haasan paid a visit to Superstar Rajinikanth ahead of his oath-taking ceremony as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. Haasan took to his official X (Earlier known as Twitter) handle and dropped a string of photos from the meeting. The pictures feature the 'Indian' actor presenting his official Rajya Sabha order to Rajinikanth. Haasan also presented Rajinikanth with a bouquet as the two Southern stalwarts met. In another image, Haasan and Rajinikanth also indulged in a warm embrace. Posting the photos on the micro-blogging site, Haasan wrote, 'I shared the beginning of this new journey with my friend @rajinikanth. I feel elated.' புதிய பயணத்தை நண்பர் @rajinikanth உடன் பகிர்ந்தேன். மகிழ்ந்தேன். — Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) July 16, 2025 Rajinikanth also treated the netizens with a glimpse of the meet and congratulated Haasan on his latest achievement. "My dear friend @ikamalhaasan who will be taking office as a member of the Rajya Sabha, heartfelt congratulations to him," he wrote. These captures of the two icons have gone viral on social media. For the unversed, aside from being a renowned actor, Haasan is the founder of the political party, Makkal Needhi Maiyam. He was among the six candidates from Tamil Nadu who were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha. The DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) had named three candidates, allocating a seat to Haasan, in accordance with a prior agreement between the two parties. Haasan will be taking oath as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha on July 25. Talking about their professional commitments, Kamal last graced the screen with Mani Ratnam's "Thug Life". The gangster drama reached the cinema halls on June 5. Up next, he will be a part of S Shankar's "Indian 3". His lineup also includes a film with action choreographers Anbariv. On the other hand, Rajinikanth will next be seen leading Lokesh Kanagaraj's "Coolie", slated to get a theatrical release on August 14. Moreover, it is also being speculated that Rajinikanth will be joining forces with 'Maharaja' maker Nithilan Swaminathan for his next.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
23 minutes ago
- Business Standard
NCERT Class 8 book calls Babur 'ruthless', Akbar's rule 'brutal, tolerant'
In the latest edition of NCERT's Class 8 Social Science textbook, Babur is described as a 'ruthless conqueror', Akbar's rule is said to combine 'brutality and tolerance', and Aurangzeb is labelled a 'military ruler' who re-imposed taxes on non-Muslims. The revised text aims to encourage students to think critically about the complexities of India's medieval history, including its grandeurs and violence, news agency PTI reported. Titled 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond', the book is part of NCERT's updated curriculum aligned with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023. It shifts the entire timeline of topics like the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, the Marathas, and the colonial period to Class 8. These subjects were previously taught in Class 7, PTI reported. At the start of the book is a section titled 'Note on Some Darker Periods in History', which explains the inclusion of sensitive historical content. It urges students to view violent past events — such as wars and invasions — with context and objectivity, stating, 'No one should be held responsible today for events of the past.' The chapter 'Reshaping India's Political Map' covers Indian history from the 13th to the 17th century, including the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Mughal Empire, and various forms of resistance. Babur is described as 'brutal and ruthless, slaughtering entire populations', while Aurangzeb is noted for temple and gurdwara destruction and for reviving the jiziya tax. Akbar's reign, though praised for religious tolerance, is also marked by harsh events like the killing of 30,000 civilians during the Chittorgarh siege. The book also reinterprets jiziya tax as a source of social humiliation and financial pressure, encouraging conversion to Islam. In earlier editions, the tax was explained more neutrally, PTI reported. While the Mughal and Sultanate sections portray a grim period in history, the textbook also celebrates resistance movements and resilient leaders. It includes stories of the Marathas, Ahoms, Rajputs, and Sikhs. Leaders like Shivaji, Tarabai, and Ahilyabai Holkar are described as visionary figures. Shivaji is hailed as a strategic leader who upheld Hindu values while respecting other faiths. Michel Danino, head of NCERT's Social Science curriculum group, denied any intent to vilify Mughals. Union Minister of State BL Verma supported the content, saying, 'The next generation should learn about what all happened. We should accept the truth.' Mughals, Sultanate dropped from NCERT textbooks The new Class 7 NCERT Social Science textbook has completely removed references to the Mughals and the Delhi Sultanate. Instead, it now features chapters on ancient Indian dynasties such as the Magadha, Mauryas, Shungas, and Satavahanas, along with themes like sacred geography and the Maha Kumbh. Government initiatives like Make in India and 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' have also been included. Designed as per the National Education Policy and NCFSE 2023, the book aims to reflect Indian traditions and knowledge systems. Earlier, during syllabus rationalisation in 2022-23, NCERT had already reduced Mughal-related content significantly.
Fibre2Fashion
23 minutes ago
- Fibre2Fashion
Industry players optimistic as Trump hints at tariff relief for India
Even as US-India trade talks continue with negotiations intensifying ahead of the August 1 deadline with much at stake as the clock ticks, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday stated that India is working on a trade deal along the same lines as the one he announced with Indonesia recently. 'India basically is working along that same line,' Trump maintained speaking to the reporters in Washington on Tuesday, hinting at the possibility that India could be offered similar trade terms as Indonesia. As per Donald Trump, Indonesia will face a 19 per cent tariff on imports into the US as part of new deal with Jakarta, but no tariff on exports from the US to Indonesia. President Donald Trump hinted at a potential USâ€'India trade deal similar to the recent Indonesia agreement, which imposes a 19 per cent tariff on exports to the US but grants duty-free access for US goods. Indian apparel exporters are optimistic, viewing this as a chance to boost competitiveness in the US market. Industry leaders believe the move could unlock significant trade growth. And as news of this announcement spreads through industry circles it brings into focus what such a deal could mean for India's major export sectors, especially the apparel industry, which counts the United States as its crucial garment export destination. 'President Trump hinting at a potential India–US trade deal modelled on the recent Indonesia agreement (where exports face a 19 per cent tariff), Indian exporters may finally find a more level playing field in the lucrative US apparel market,' underlined Kishan Daga, founder anchor of consulting service provider Concepts N Strategies, speaking to Fibre2Fashion , who also added that a tariff reduction to under 20 per cent could open 'more doors' for Indian exporters, particularly in athleisure and MMF-heavy segments where India is ramping up production. Such a shift would also support India's vision to become a reliable global supplier in technical textiles and functional apparel, claimed Daga even as Sabhari Girish, chief sustainability officer at Sulochana Cotton Spinning Mills (Tiruppur) on his part stated: 'It is undoubtedly a very positive development if we have to pay 19 per cent tariff as is the case with Indonesia; and it also implies how hard we negotiated on tariffs to maintain our competitiveness.' Girish also noted that assuming India also have to pay 19 per cent tariff, the real challenge for the industry would be in seizing the opportunity even as he urged exporters to expand their production capacities and boost manpower in order to make the most of this situation. Meanwhile, N Thirukkumaran, chairman of Tiruppur based Ess Tee Exports India Pvt Ltd , said, ' India will definitely have a competitive advantage compared to many of its rivals. However, this will come with a caveat—the new tariff would be in addition to the existing duties Indian apparel exporters already pay on shipments to the US, which could somewhat diminish the overall benefit, even if the new tariff rate is set at 19 per cent.' He, however, remained cautiously optimistic, noting that India might negotiate hard to bring the tariff down from 19 per cent in the interim deal—a move that, if successful, could be a game-changer for the industry. It may be mentioned here that with discussions focusing on expanding market access and negotiating tariff reductions on goods estimated to constitute between $150 billion and $200 billion in bilateral trade, it is clear that both nations see the potential to unlock even greater economic value, a sentiment that is echoed in several recent media reports suggesting that India and the US aim to boost bilateral trade volumes to $500 billion by 2030, a figure that would mark a substantial leap and a transformative moment in their strategic and economic partnership. But this optimistic projection hinges on the successful completion of an equitable and mutually beneficial trade agreement. Even as the discussions with the US continue, aiming to finalise a comprehensive trade deal, all eyes are now on the so called 'mini trade deal', which is on the verge of being formalised, and is seen as a precursor or stepping stone to a more robust and all-encompassing arrangement. The origins of this mini trade deal date back to when Trump first announced his intention to impose additional tariffs on a number of countries with which the US has a trade deficit, a list that prominently included India due to its substantial export surplus vis-à-vis the US, with India exporting roughly $77 billion worth of goods to the United States annually while importing only around $42 billion, thus maintaining a trade surplus that has long been a point of contention for the Trump administration, which has repeatedly demanded more equitable terms of trade and better access for US goods and services in the Indian market. If one may recall, in February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump had announced during Modi's two-day visit to the United States that the 'first tranche' of a larger bilateral trade agreement would be announced by fall 2025, raising hopes in both capitals that years of stalled talks, misunderstandings, and tariff disputes would finally begin to yield concrete results. However, the impetus for a more accelerated approach to the deal grew stronger after the US administration decided to impose or consider tariffs on nearly every major trading partner around the world in a bid to shrink America's longstanding trade deficit, a goal Trump has pursued with singular focus since his election as the US President. New Delhi has in the past demurred from signing any agreement that could have potentially adverse implications for its sensitive agricultural and dairy sectors, both of which are politically sensitive and socially vital for India. That said, as we now wait for formal signing and announcement of the deal, which would define the tariff India will pay on its exports to the US, the sentiment within the Indian apparel industry remains notably upbeat, in anticipation of 19 per cent tariff, which is expected give an edge to Indian apparel exporters to the crucial US market. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)
