Punjab will be drug-free by next I-Day claims CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said a “blueprint” is ready for dealing a severe blow to the drug menace that has plagued Punjab to make the state drug-free by Independence Day next year. Mann was addressing a gathering after hoisting a national flag at a state-level function on the occasion of the country’s 77th Independence Day.
“Punjabis are born leaders and they cannot lag behind in any field but the need of the hour is to channelise their unbounded energy for which the state government is making concerted efforts,” the Chief Minister said. “The day is not far when due to these persistent efforts, the state will lead the country,” Mann said, adding that once Punjab leads the nation, India will guide the world. He said the state government has prepared a blueprint against “chitta” [synthetic drug] which will be implemented with the proactive support of the people. “We are ready with a big plan and you will start seeing the results. I am getting calls from villagers who say that they are ready to support. Because an entire village knows who is selling [drugs],” said Mann without giving away too many details of the plan. “I assure you that before next 15 August, we will be successful in washing away the stigma of ‘chitta’,” he said. The Chief Minister said every village in Punjab has the footprint of one or another martyr who had sacrificed their lives for the country.