Delhi, 11 January (H.S.): Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that the Centre and state governments will have to jointly take action against drug trafficking in the country with a ‘ruthless approach’.
The Home Minister chaired a regional conference on drug trafficking and national security organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of developed India by 2047, Amit Shah said that if we want to make India first in the world, then it is not possible without a drug-free India. Shah warned that seven percent of India’s population is addicted to drugs. If we do not wake up now, it will be too late in ten years. He said that this battle will have to be fought collectively by the Centre and state governments on a united platform. He said, “No country can move forward on the path of development with a drug-addicted young generation. It is our responsibility that we all fight this challenge together and make all efforts to win this battle.”
Reiterating the government’s zero tolerance policy towards drugs, Shah announced that today, we have taken the initiative to burn the seized drugs. He said that during the fortnight of burning drugs, one lakh kg of drugs will be destroyed within the next 10 days, which is worth Rs 8600 crore in the international market.
Highlighting the progress made in the last decade, he said that the fight against drugs has become very strong under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. In the last 10 years, there has been a 7-fold increase in the seizure of drugs, which is a big achievement. The Modi government has given a strong message of destroying the entire ecosystem of drugs by strict action. Sharing the figures of the previous government, he said that from 2004-14, 3.63 lakh kg of drugs were seized. At the same time, in the last 10 years, we have seized 24 lakh kg of drugs. This is seven times more. This is a huge achievement. The comparative value of the drugs disposed of during this period has also increased eight times. In 2004-14, it was Rs 8,150 crore, while in 2014-24 it was Rs 56,851 crore.
He said that by seizing drugs worth Rs 16,914 crore in 2024, the NCB and the police across the country took the biggest action against drugs, which has strengthened the youth and society towards a drug-free future. This is the biggest figure since independence. In view of the challenge before us, we will have to move forward with more strength, with detailed planning and timely strategy, only then we will be able to succeed. Shah said that if we can make one district drug-free, then it is possible to gradually make the whole country drug-free. If the strategy is made on the basis of district level conditions, then it will get huge success. Shah said that critics are claiming that there has been an increase in drug consumption, but the fact is that these figures reflect the success of enforcement agencies in cracking down on drug networks rather than an actual increase in drug use.
Amit Shah said that the use of dark web, crypto currency, online market place and drones is still a challenge for us. Its technical solutions will have to be found by our agencies, state government and youth associated with this technology in the interest of the drug free campaign in the interest of the country. Warning the states about chemical drugs, Amit Shah said that at least more than 50 labs have been caught across the country. This shows that due to our strictness, the demand for drugs has increased and such people are looking for its alternative. He said that all the state governments will have to take action against the illegal chemical labs running in the state with a ‘ruthless approach’. The Home Minister said that there has been a big change in our approach since 2019. We have adopted a ruthless approach against the supply chain of drugs.
Shah called upon the states to popularise the Manas app and the 1933 toll-free number. He said that more than 25 thousand people have contacted on it. He said that the use of PIT NDPS Act has to be increased and strengthening the legal provision of property confiscation are necessary steps to end the drug trade.
On this occasion, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Tapan Kumar Deka, Narcotics Control Bureau Director General Anurag Garg were present in the program. At the same time, the governors, administrators and chief ministers of the states were also connected through online medium.
Hindusthan Samachar
Comments