‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ Campaign Completes 500 Days; 70,000 Drug Smugglers Arrested So Far: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann
Village Defence Committees Complete One Year; 1.25 Lakh Volunteers Have Become Strength of ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann
Akali Dal Introduced Drugs, Congress Patronised Them; AAP Govt Is Eliminating Menace: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann
Every Village & City in Punjab Is Actively Supporting Government’s Fight Against Drugs: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann
Strict Action Against Drug Smugglers Alongside Treatment, Rehabilitation & Public Awareness Campaigns: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann
Opposition Claimed Drugs Could Never Be Eliminated, But Public Support Has Helped Us Break Backbone of Menace: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann
BJP, Akali Dal and Congress Did Nothing but Ruin Punjab; They Seek Power Only to Plunder State: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann
LUDHIANA; 2nd August 2026:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday asserted that the Punjab Government’s ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ (war against drugs) will continue until every ounce of the menace is eliminated from the state, declaring that the remarkable success of the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ has been made possible through the active participation of people. During a meeting with Village Defence Committee (VDC) volunteers, Pinda De Pehredaar, in Ludhiana, the Chief Minister said the campaign has completed 500 days, during which 70,000 drug smugglers have been arrested, while 1.25 lakh volunteers across 13,000 villages have emerged as the backbone of the movement.
Launching a scathing attack on previous governments, Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Akali Dal introduced drugs and the Congress patronised the menace, whereas the AAP Government has broken its backbone through strict action against smugglers, treatment and rehabilitation of victims, and an unprecedented public awareness campaign. He said Punjab, once branded as ‘Udta Punjab’, is now transforming into ‘Padhta Te Tandrust Punjab’, as reflected in the state’s top ranking in school education, record JEE and NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) success and merit-based employment, while reiterating that the fight against drugs will continue until Punjab becomes completely drug-free.
Sharing a few snippets from this programme, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated on X: “Met with Village Defence Committee (VDC) volunteers in Ludhiana today. Our campaign against drugs has delivered remarkable results over the past 500-plus days. With the joint efforts of the Punjab Police and our volunteers, 70,000 drug smugglers have been arrested, breaking the backbone of the drug trade. The state once branded as ‘Udta Punjab’ is now transforming into ‘Padhta Te Tandrust Punjab’. Punjab’s top ranking in school education, 882 students qualifying NEET, and more than 68,500 government jobs stand as proof of this transformation. This fight will continue until drugs are completely eradicated from Punjab. Let us all come together to build a ‘Rangla Punjab’. Inquilab Zindabad.”
Addressing a packed gathering, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Today is a significant day as Yudh Nashean Virudh has completed 500 days and our Village Defence Committees have completed one year. I thank the people of Punjab for turning both these initiatives into a people’s movement. The day is not far when together these two movements will completely eradicate the menace of drugs from Punjab.”
Thanking the gathering, the Chief Minister said that he is indebted to all those serving Punjab in the true spirit and added that their determination proves that any challenge, however big, can be overcome with collective resolve. “The problem that once appeared insurmountable is steadily coming to an end within 500 days. Many people believed that this curse could never be eliminated, but with the active support of the people we have broken the backbone of this menace,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The Chief Minister said that the AAP Government has ensured treatment for those trapped in drug addiction by taking them to de-addiction and rehabilitation centres so they can live with dignity and self-respect. “We have arrested 70,000 drug smugglers in the last 500 days. Across 13,000 villages, nearly 1.25 lakh volunteers are actively working to eliminate drugs. Only an honest government committed to the welfare of the people could have undertaken such determined action,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Akali Dal introduced ‘chitta’ (drugs) into Punjab and the Congress further promoted and patronised the menace, just as both parties were responsible for misgovernance in the state. “Today, our government has wiped out drugs from the state. Helping someone leave drugs behind is equivalent to taking that person on a pilgrimage. It gives me immense satisfaction that our government has rewritten Punjab’s history from ‘Udta Punjab’ to ‘Padhta Punjab’ through an education revolution,” he added.
The Chief Minister reiterated that Punjab has emerged as the top-performing state in primary and middle-school education due to the sustained efforts of the state government over the last four years.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the AAP Government has upgraded primary and middle-school education, strengthened the overall system, introduced smart classrooms, and ensured advanced training for teachers. “Punjab has surpassed Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi to secure the number one position in primary and middle-school education. The latest figures released by NITI Aayog, one of the Government of India’s premier institutions, confirm that Punjab now ranks first in the country in this sector,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that for the last four years, the state government has focused on teacher training, modern teaching methods, and smart classrooms, due to which Punjab now occupies the top position. “Earlier, Kerala held the number one position, but today Punjab has claimed the top rank with a huge margin. We will continue making even greater efforts in the coming years because education is the light that dispels darkness,” he added
The Chief Minister said that when his government assumed office, Punjab ranked 27th in school education, but today the state has risen to the number one position. He further said that while only 80 students from Punjab Government schools had qualified the NEET examination in 2021, the number has increased to 881 students in 2026, the highest-ever achievement by Punjab Government schools.
CM bBhagwant Singh Mann stated that the AAP Government is making concerted efforts to strengthen the education sector so that children from ordinary families receive the same opportunities to excel as anyone else.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the Centre has failed to conduct even a single NEET examination in a transparent manner, with examination papers leaking repeatedly and causing disappointment among students. “In contrast, our government has completed four-and-a-half years in office without a single examination paper leak in Punjab. A few days ago, a case of cheating during a pharmacy examination was detected, and the culprits were immediately arrested,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that to provide quality healthcare to the people, 1,090 Aam Aadmi Clinics are currently functioning across Punjab and this number will soon increase to 1,400. He said that these clinics have become the cornerstone of accessible healthcare, with more than five crore OPD consultations already being completed.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that to ensure comprehensive healthcare for every resident, the Punjab Government has launched the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, the first scheme of its kind in the country. “The scheme provides cashless medical treatment of up to ₹10 lakh to every resident family in Punjab. Punjab is the first state in India to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage. This has substantially reduced the financial burden on people while ensuring quality treatment,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that this historic initiative aims to provide universal healthcare coverage to every family in the state and added that people have already availed free treatment worth more than ₹937 crore under the scheme.
The Chief Minister said that a total of 3,100 sports grounds are being developed across all districts of Punjab to promote a sporting culture in the state. “Sports are the most effective weapon to steer the youth away from the menace of drugs. The AAP Government is successfully organising ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Dian’, in which three generations of a family, from grandparents to grandchildren, participate together,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride that Punjabi sportspersons are leading the country’s biggest sporting teams, with Punjabis serving as captains of the Indian men’s cricket team, the Indian women’s cricket team, and the Indian hockey team.
He said that previous governments had tarnished Punjab’s image, whereas the present government is rebuilding it. “Earlier, drugs were supplied in official vehicles during the previous governments. Today, drug smugglers are behind bars,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The Chief Minister said that the Akali Dal, BJP and Congress had done nothing except ruin Punjab and now seek power only to plunder the state. “These parties have betrayed Punjab and repeatedly ignored the interests of its people. The Punjab Government is constructing 43,000 kilometres of roads across the state to strengthen rural connectivity. The contractors executing these road projects will also be responsible for their maintenance,” he noted.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride that the Punjab Government has provided more than 68,000 government jobs to the youth. “The era of cash-for-jobs and favouritism has ended in Punjab. Today, government jobs are being provided purely on the basis of merit and eligibility. Every government appointment has been made transparently on merit, due to which not even a single recruitment has been challenged in any court,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that owing to the AAP government’s industry-friendly policies and conducive industrial environment, leading industrialists are making a beeline to invest in the state. “Prominent companies including Sanatan Textiles, Nestlé, CLAAS, Freudenberg, Cargill, Verbio, Danone and several others have already commenced operations in Punjab,” he added.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that Tata Steel has established its second-largest plant after Jamshedpur in Punjab with an investment of ₹3,200 crore, while Japanese steel major Aichi is also investing in the state. “My government’s endeavour is to place tiffins in the hands of youth instead of ‘syringes’ by creating employment opportunities. As idle hands are a devil’s workshop, our government is making every effort to ensure maximum employment opportunities for the youth so that they do not fall prey to social evils. Unemployment is the root cause of several social problems, and we are committed to eliminating it,” he affirmed.
Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora, Tarunpreet Singh Sond and Dr. Balbir Singh, Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and several other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
