Drug addiction helps anti-national forces: Modi

Chandigarh, Feb 19 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged youth to stay away from drug addiction, saying that it not only adversely affected the mind and body but also helps anti-national forces.

The Prime Minister was speaking through video-conferencing at the launch of 'Drug Free India' campaign organized by the Art of Living at Guru Jambeshwar University in Haryana's Hisar town.

Modi said those who took drugs were unintentionally supporting anti-social elements.

"Drug traders harm the youth power and weaken the economic strength of the country. The Government of India has formed a National Action Plan to prevent cross-border drug trade and break the backbone of drugs business. It was implemented in 2018," he said.

He said that a detailed action plan till 2025 has been prepared against drug addiction which includes an awareness generation campaign among the people, its prevention, and special campaigns for sensitive sections of the society.

The Prime Minister also appealed to the people to adopt a sensitive attitude towards the victims of drugs by not looking at them as criminals and show these misguided youths the right path by connecting them to the mainstream society.

"Like other social evils, we would get this evil of drug addiction eliminated from society. The use of technology can play an important role in this campaign. Social organizations and community welfare organizations are playing a very important role in this direction," he added.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said strict compliance of the law had been ensured to break the drug trade and the smuggling network in Haryana.

"The state government created a Special Task Force in January 2018 through which many drug dealers have been caught and large quantities of drugs have been seized," he said.