Srinagar, May 10: Bharatiya Janata Party Jammu & Kashmir today termed as deeply unfortunate the remarks made by PDP President Mehbooba Mufti questioning the participation of students in anti drug Padh Yatras organised under the Nasha Mukht Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan being spearheaded by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
In a statement issued here, BJP J&K State Spokesperson Danish Bhat said that Jammu & Kashmir is presently facing a serious and expanding drug crisis which has affected lakhs of individuals and families across the region, making broad based social awareness and public participation an absolute necessity rather than a matter of political debate.
He said official estimates indicating substance abuse among more than 13 lakh individuals in Jammu & Kashmir underline the scale and gravity of the challenge confronting society today.
“At a time when parents, teachers and civil society are expressing deep concern over the growing impact of narcotics on the younger generation, any attempt to question or discourage peaceful awareness initiatives aimed at sensitising society is both unfortunate and misplaced,” he said.
Danish Bhat stated that awareness Padh Yatras are intended to strengthen social consciousness against drug abuse and encourage community participation in combating a menace that has penetrated deeply into society. “Drug addiction cannot be addressed through enforcement measures alone. Every successful campaign against substance abuse across the world has relied upon social mobilisation, awareness and community participation, particularly involving the youth,” he added.
The BJP spokesperson said the people of Jammu & Kashmir are widely appreciating the decisive measures being taken under the leadership of Manoj Sinha to dismantle the narcotics network and target the larger drug economy operating within the region. He said strict enforcement action against drug traffickers and properties linked to narcotics has generated confidence among ordinary citizens who for years witnessed the steady expansion of this menace without an adequate institutional response.
“The public sentiment today is strongly in favour of tougher and more sustained action against drug networks because the social consequences of addiction are visible in every district and almost every community of Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.
Danish Bhat further stated that the present situation is also a reflection of prolonged political and administrative failure under successive regional governments which failed to respond to the growing threat of narcotics with the seriousness and urgency it required.
“It is therefore natural for questions to arise when certain regional political parties appear uncomfortable with an aggressive crackdown on the drug economy and the broader social mobilisation taking place against substance abuse. The people of Jammu & Kashmir are themselves asking why those who remained silent during the steady growth of this menace are now attempting to raise doubts over a campaign that has received overwhelming public support,” he said.
The BJP spokesperson asserted that the Nasha Mukht J&K Abhiyaan has evolved into a significant social movement with active support from parents, students, educational institutions and civil society, and reiterated BJP’s full support for every initiative aimed at safeguarding the future of Jammu & Kashmir’s youth from the devastating impact of drug addiction.
