Moga, February 16 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday accused previous governments in the state of "injecting" synthetic drugs into the youth, and also claimed that the state's passport applications had decreased due to employment generation in the state.
He said his government was running an anti-drug campaign, "Yudh Nashian Virudh," under which it had cut off drug supply lines, rehabilitated victims, and demolished the properties of drug smugglers.
He was addressing a gathering at a state-level event for his government's anti-drug campaign, where he also claimed that passport applications in the state had decreased due to the employment opportunities created by the state government.
Arvind Kejriwal, Cabinet ministers, MLAs, the chief secretary, and the DGP were also present at the event.
Mann alleged that previous governments had "injected" drugs into Punjab.
Attacking the opposition, Mann called them "devils" who wanted to "destroy the state by patronizing drugs and criminals".
"Now all these anti-Punjab forces have joined hands to ruin Punjab, and it is time for Punjabis to also join hands against them," he said, referring to his political rivals.
Regarding his government's anti-drug campaign, he said that drug smugglers were now fleeing the state due to the ongoing anti-drug movement.
"We have taken office to create a 'colourful' Punjab, and we are doing everything possible to achieve this noble goal with the support of the people," he said.
Taking a dig at the opposition, Mann said, "Even if I go to the hospital for a routine check-up, they spread rumors about me and my health because they are envious of my people-oriented approach."
Mann arrived at the venue after being discharged from Fortis Hospital in Mohali, where he had been admitted due to exhaustion on Sunday.
Slamming the opposition for spreading rumors about the "Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna" to "mislead" the public, Mann said, "The state government has introduced this scheme, which is the first of its kind in the country, to provide comprehensive healthcare to the people.
"Under this scheme, every resident family in Punjab is entitled to cashless medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh," he said.
According to Mann, this scheme will significantly reduce the financial burden on the public while ensuring access to quality health services.
The chief minister said that though Punjab had produced several players, generals, and martyrs, unfortunately, some "anti-Punjab forces" had tarnished the state's image by labeling Punjabis as drug addicts.
"Those who have committed these sins will be punished by the people," he said, adding, "They may be able to escape punishment from the courts through their ill-gotten wealth, but the people will not forgive them."
Mann said that due to the state government's strenuous efforts, the number of people seeking passports had decreased in the state as the Punjab government was giving jobs to local youth based on merit.
"The state government has given government jobs to more than 63,000 youth across Punjab, due to which people are now abandoning plans to go abroad," he said.
"While the state government is working tirelessly for the welfare of the people, the opposition had always sought a share in successful ventures during their days in power," he claimed.
Listing the "people-oriented" initiatives of the state government, Mann said, "Today, water is reaching every village, whereas earlier canal water used to only end in the fields of affluent people."
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said, "Yudh Nashian Virudh has broken the backbone of the drug menace, and 17,000 drug smugglers have been put behind bars."
He added, "Phase II of Yudh Nashian Virudh will be the final nail in the coffin of the drug menace, and the village defence committees are the catalyst to make Punjab drug-free."
On this occasion, chief secretary K A P Sinha and DGP Gaurav Yadav also addressed the gathering.
