Punjab: Students were excited to join the anti-drug rally but many of them were unaware of the motive behind the rally and the reason for gathering there. The event was scheduled to start at 10 am but the chief guest arrived at the venue around 11:30 am and the students who had gathered there had to wait. Several school and college students and NSS and NCC cadets participated in the anti-drug rally ‘Yuddh Nasha Viruddh’ flagged off by Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Ludhiana on Wednesday. An NCC cadet said they were told they would be participating in a marathon. “We were asked to walk from Khalsa College to Aarti Chowk and then made to sit. We again walked back to the college. On reaching there, we came to know that it was an anti-drug rally and not a marathon,” he said. An NSS member from a local college said she was surprised to see CM Bhagwant Mann on the dais. He said, “I did not know he was coming here. It was a pleasant surprise to see him and Arvind Kejriwal on the stage.” NCC cadets, NSS volunteers, school and college students along with CM Bhagwant Mann made three promises and took an oath, “I am a true son of the holy land of Punjab. Today I swear on the land of Punjab that I will never take drugs myself, I will make every effort to keep my friends, family and society away from drugs. Wherever I see drugs being sold, I will raise my voice against it. I will not be afraid. Because God is with me in this fight. I will choose education, not drugs; I will choose progress, not destruction; and I will choose revolution, not silence. I promise, I will not sit in peace until the state is free from drugs.” Referring to the sacrifices of freedom fighters, Mann quoted Shaheed Rajguru: “We could have lived in peace, our parents have also brought us up with struggles, but we chose the path of revolution.” He urged people to adopt the spirit of sacrifice and raise their voice for the betterment of society. Comparing himself with IIT graduate and former IRS officer Kejriwal, who quit a prestigious job to serve the country, Mann stressed that true change demands sacrifice.
If drug abuse is not eradicated, how will you lead the state: Kejriwal to youth
Before flagging off the rally, Kejriwal addressed the children and said: “He feels blessed to be among the youth and tomorrow these youth are going to lead the state. Someone from this crowd will become the chief minister or a leading industrialist, but if drug abuse is not eradicated from the state, how will you lead the state. It is unfortunate that previous governments have made drug abuse reach every household in the state for a few bucks, but the AAP will not tolerate this.”
Ludhiana: Many youths unaware of the reason behind the rally
