Drug fight is a people's movement, not just policing: Haryana CM Saini
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday, 18 July declared that the battle against drugs must transcend law enforcement and become a full-scale social movement, addressing all Station House Officers (SHOs) of Haryana Police at a dialogue programme in Karnal. Speaking at the Haryana Police Academy in Madhuban, Saini said drugs are devastating families and darkening the future of the state's youth.
Key Developments at the Madhuban Programme
The event, titled 'Ek Police, Ek Sankalp – Drug-Free Haryana', brought together SHOs from across the state to sharpen the collective resolve against narcotics and chart an effective operational strategy. Saini attended as chief guest and used the platform to lay out a broader vision — one that goes well beyond arrests and seizures.
On the occasion, Saini also released the Haryana Police Department's quarterly magazine, which documents major achievements including the extradition of wanted criminals from foreign countries and their repatriation to India.
What the CM Said on Drugs and Policing
'Giving this fight the shape of a people's movement through public participation is the need of the hour,' Saini said, urging SHOs to move beyond conventional law-and-order roles. He called on station-level officers to build regular dialogue with schools, colleges, panchayats, voluntary organisations, religious bodies, and youth clubs in their jurisdictions.
Saini warned that the drug trade is now exploiting modern technology, social media, and organised crime networks to reach young people. 'Merely arresting drug traffickers is not enough; it is essential to dismantle the entire network,' he said, stressing that rebuilding public trust in the police is equally critical.
Sports as a Counter to Drug Culture
Saini reiterated the government's intent to position Haryana as a national hub of sports — framing athletic participation as a direct antidote to drug abuse among youth. 'Healthy, disciplined and sports-oriented youth will be the greatest strength in building Viksit Bharat,' he said, calling on young people to win gold medals for the country rather than fall prey to narcotics.
Super-100 NEET Success Highlighted
In a separate highlight of the event, Saini congratulated 70 students from the government's Super-100 programme who cleared the NEET examination and secured admission to medical colleges. He noted that most of these students come from economically weaker and ordinary families, and described their achievement as proof that quality education and targeted government support can open doors for meritorious students regardless of background.
What Comes Next
The Madhuban dialogue is part of a continuing push by the Saini government to institutionalise community-level anti-drug efforts across Haryana's police stations. With the state's SHOs now formally aligned to the 'Drug-Free Haryana' mission, the next phase will test whether station-level outreach — to schools, religious bodies, and youth clubs — can translate policy intent into measurable change on the ground.