CM’s cyclothon to reach Sirsa on April 26, Opposition slams it as drama
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is set to arrive in Sirsa on April 26 as part of the state-wide Cyclothon-2.0, an awareness campaign aimed at promoting fitness and a drug-free lifestyle. The next morning — April 27 — he will flag off the rally towards Dabwali with the BJP and local administration preparing for a grand welcome.
This will be CM Saini’s third visit to Sirsa. The Sirsa Municipal Council, now BJP backed, has prepared a development proposal to be handed over to the CM. Local BJP leaders, including former MP Sunita Duggal, Gobind Kanda and Municipal Council Chairman Veer Shanti Swaroop, are pushing for promises made during municipal elections to be fulfilled during this visit.
However, ahead of the high-profile event, Opposition voices have grown louder, raising questions about the intent and impact of the Cyclothon. Dabwali MLA Aditya Devi Lal, who recently quit the BJP to join INLD, has strongly criticised the rally calling it a “one-day drama”.
“Cycling for a day won’t solve the state’s drug crisis,” Aditya said. “The government is using events like these to distract from the real issue while our youth continue to die from overdose.”
His remarks come as Sirsa battles a worsening drug problem, particularly among the youth. In the past four months, nine young lives have been lost to medical drug overdose in Dabwali area. Many of these substances are not covered under the NDPS Act, making those easy to obtain and difficult to regulate. Addicts often crush prescription pills, mix them with water and inject the solution using syringes, a method linked to several recent deaths.
Balwinder alias Sunny (35) died of a suspected drug overdose in Sirsa, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the “Drug-Free Village” campaign. Sunny, a daily wage labourer from Firozabad village, collapsed near Rania chungi on Thursday and died on the spot. His family believes drugs were the cause. Ironically, Firozabad was declared drug-free on March 29, just weeks before the incident. The police sent the body for post-mortem examination. So far, under the drug-free village initiative, the police have declared 173 villages and 11 urban wards in Sirsa as drug-free zones.
Locals in areas like Rori have reported that the Bhakra canal banks have become drug dens. Though initial police crackdowns were carried out, traffickers have since resumed operations.
Haryana Tribune