Governor flags off anti-drug rally, tells political parties to join campaign

Imparting an impetus to the ‘Drug Free Himachal’ campaign, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla flagged off an anti-drug mass awareness rally at Barrier Chowk in the neighboring Indora Assembly constituency in Kangra district on Tuesday. Hundreds of students of Minerva College of Pharmacy and other local educational institutions participated in this rally by holding posters and banners with anti-drug messages and raising slogans vowing to make Himachal Pradesh drug free.

While addressing a gathering on this occasion, the Governor exhorted all political parties of the state to join this campaign to save Himachal Pradesh from the clutches of drug menace. He said that complete eradication of drugs menace could help preserve the state’s rich cultural heritage and future generations.

While speaking on the campus of Minerva Group of Colleges, the Governor lauded the initiative of students in the anti-drug campaign and raised a strong voice against this menace.

He said the Drug Free Himachal campaign had been launched in the state with the inspiration of Prime Minister Narender Modi.

The Governor said the parents of those wards who had fallen prey to drug addiction had started coming forward to assist them in their rehabilitation. He appealed to the students to paste anti-drug posters around their houses to inspire society against this menace and carry on the torch of anti-drug campaign till the end of this menace.

The Governor issued fresh instruction for higher educational institutions in the state under which students would have to submit an affidavit at the time of their college admission pledging to abstain from drugs. “Violation of this pledge will call a disciplinary action against the offenders,” he added.

He greeted the state government for enacting a legislation in the state Assembly aimed at combating drug abuse and stated that as constitutional head of the state, he had adopted the role of a Guardian by stepping out of Raj Bhavan to lead the Anti-Drug Campaign across the state. Earlier, the Governor inaugurated the newly built building of Minerva Nursing College and visited the ancient Lord Shiva Temple at Kathgarh, where he paid his obeisance.

Rajiv Bhardwaj, Kangra MP, welcomed the Governor and thanked him for launching the state-wide anti-drug movement. He said the Governor had shown exceptional sensitivity towards social concerns and had personally taken to the field, awakening public consciousness across the state.

Local MLA Malender Rajan, who also welcomed the Governor, described the campaign as a noble cause linked directly to the future of the young generation. During the Governor’s programme, a commitment was made to make Indora a drug-free zone under the Chief Minister’s “zero tolerance” directive.

Students of Minerva College performed a street play highlighting the dangers of drug abuse which was applauded by the audience.

Himachal Tribune