NEW DELHI: Calling consuming of drugs not “cool” or a “style statement” Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the money generated through drug trafficking could actually be used to fund terror activities. Speaking on his monthly radio broadcast, ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the Prime Minister said a helpline would be set up soon to assist those seeking solutions.
He called on celebrities, and public personalities to appeal the youth not to take drugs, and even start a social media campaign ‘drugs free India’ to spread the message far and wide. This was his third radio address, where the PM seeks to engage with people in far flung areas of the country who do not have access to newspapers or TV. Modi gave example of one ‘Mr Dutt’ who was involved in drugs, went to jail, and then his life changed.
“He studied in jail and slowly his life changed. His story is very famous. He was in Yerawada jail (Maharashtra), he added without naming the real person to suggest that many people have been able to come out of drug addiction. Arguing that drug addiction is bad, but not the person involved, Modi suggested a joint effort to deal with the “psycho-socio-medical” problem.
The Prime Minister during the recent DGPs’ conference in Assam had asked the police chiefs to find a solution to this problem. “I have asked the authorities to start a helpline so that parents who have their children involved in drug problem and are feeling shy what to do about it can find a solution,” he said. He said drug addiction is “a malaise filled 3D -- darkness, destruction and devastation ”.
“Sometimes I want to ask the youth involved in drugs, have you ever thought what you are getting for a momentary pleasure. You may be relieved of problems for some time. But have you ever thought of where the money you buy drugs go. This money goes to terrorists, who buy weapons to kill our soldiers. Son of a mother dies. In that bullet fired is the money spent by you on buying drugs,” PM said. He also suggested that the parents who are too busy with their lives to engage with their children to see what they were doing. The PM also asked the chemists who supply cough syrups to youth who are addicted to it to refrain from doing so.
Modi also gave example of “enthusiasm” and “drive” of Indian Blind Cricket Team which recently met him after winning the World Cup. He also congratulated the J&K cricket team, who recently won a match against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy.
He also referred to the UN decision declaring June 21 as ‘International Yoga Day’ and said a record 177 nations co-sponsored the resolution on a subject which is an idea of India. Modi also exhorted people to visit North-East, where he visited a week ago.