CM Sukhu launches anti-drug campaign T-shirt, calls Nalagarh marathon
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the T-shirt for the 'Nashe Nu Lalkar, Naujawani Di Pukar' anti-drug campaign on 5 October 2026, ahead of a marathon and cultural event in Nalagarh on 9 October, backed by local MLAs from Doon and Nalagarh.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the campaign T-shirt for 'Nashe Nu Lalkar, Naujawani Di Pukar' on 5 October 2026 .
A marathon and cultural programme is scheduled in Nalagarh on 9 October 2026 as the campaign's flagship event.
Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary and Nalagarh MLA Hardeep Singh Bawa were present at the launch.
The campaign targets youth and calls for community participation to raise awareness against drug abuse.
Nalagarh, in Solan district , is the geographic anchor of the initiative, reflecting its proximity to Punjab's border.
A T-shirt became the opening shot of a new front in Himachal Pradesh's war on drugs. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday, 5 October 2026, launched the official T-shirt for the campaign 'Nashe Nu Lalkar, Naujawani Di Pukar' ('Challenge to Addiction, the Call of Youth'), kicking off a grassroots mobilisation drive aimed squarely at the state's young population.
'Nashe Nu Lalkar' — what the campaign is calling for
The campaign's name, drawn from Punjabi, frames drug abuse as something youth must actively confront — not merely avoid. The T-shirt launch is the visible centrepiece of that messaging, designed to make the movement wearable and visible on the streets. CM Sukhu urged all local residents to join the initiative and 'raise their voice loudly against drugs.'
Nalagarh marathon on 9 October
The campaign's flagship public event — a marathon and cultural programme — is scheduled for 9 October 2026 in Nalagarh, a town in Solan district that sits at the industrial and cultural crossroads of lower Himachal. The Chief Minister called on residents to 'participate enthusiastically' in the marathon, turning athletic participation into an act of civic commitment against narcotics.
Doon and Nalagarh MLAs stand shoulder to shoulder
The launch event drew two legislators from the region: Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary and Nalagarh MLA Hardeep Singh Bawa, lending the campaign visible legislative backing at the constituency level. Their presence signals that the drive is not a top-down diktat from Shimla but a locally rooted push with elected representatives as its public face.
CM Sukhu extended his 'heartfelt congratulations and best wishes' to the organisers, signalling state-level encouragement without direct state funding being announced. The decision to anchor the campaign in Nalagarh — a constituency with significant youth population and proximity to Punjab's border — underscores the geographic logic of where anti-drug messaging is considered most urgent in the state.
Whether a marathon route can outrun a deeper public-health challenge is the question Nalagarh's streets will begin to answer on 9 October.
Point of View
Constituency-level momentum on drug abuse — a politically resonant issue along the Punjab border belt where narcotics trafficking is a documented concern. By anchoring the event in Nalagarh and putting elected MLAs at the forefront, the CM is localising the message rather than keeping it a state-capital directive, which can improve grassroots uptake. The T-shirt and marathon format follows a familiar playbook of converting policy intent into a participatory public spectacle. The durability of such campaigns, however, typically depends on whether they are backed by enforcement and rehabilitation infrastructure — neither of which was announced here.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Nashe Nu Lalkar, Naujawani Di Pukar' campaign?
'Nashe Nu Lalkar, Naujawani Di Pukar' — meaning 'Challenge to Addiction, the Call of Youth' — is an anti-drug awareness campaign launched in Himachal Pradesh, with CM Sukhu unveiling its official T-shirt on 5 October 2026.
When and where is the Nalagarh anti-drug marathon?
The marathon and cultural programme under the 'Nashe Nu Lalkar' campaign is scheduled for 9 October 2026 in Nalagarh , Solan district, Himachal Pradesh.
Which MLAs attended the campaign T-shirt launch with CM Sukhu?
Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary and Nalagarh MLA Hardeep Singh Bawa were present at the launch event alongside CM Sukhu.
Why is the anti-drug campaign being held in Nalagarh?
Nalagarh in Solan district sits close to the Punjab border, a region associated with heightened drug trafficking concerns, making it a strategically chosen location for an anti-narcotics awareness drive.
How can people participate in the 'Nashe Nu Lalkar' campaign?
CM Sukhu has urged all local residents to join the campaign, take part in the 9 October marathon in Nalagarh , and raise their voices against drug abuse as part of this community initiative.
