CM leads Harmandir Sahib ‘ardas’ for drug-free Punjab

Amritsar: The launch of the Amritsar police initiative against the drug menace saw the participation of thousands of youth at the Golden Temple on Wednesday. Led by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, thousands from across the state participated in ‘ardas’ (prayer) at Sri Harmandir Sahib to make the state completely drug free.

Wearing yellow turbans, scarves and dupattas, they prayed to the almighty to give them strength to fulfil this sacred mission aimed at wiping out the curse of drugs from the state. Granthi Baljit Singh performed the ‘ardas’ in front of the Akal Takht, located inside the Golden Temple complex. Conceived by Amritsar police commissioner Naunihal Singh, ‘The Hope Initiative’ encompasses a three-pronged strategy of pray, pledge and play.

Starting with prayers and pledges, this initiative is now transitioning into ‘The Hope Cup’ — a sports competition. After ‘ardas’, Mann inaugurated cricket matches at the Gandhi Ground.

Speaking on the occasion, Mann said this was the first of its kind mass movement against drugs which would break the backbone of this menace. As a part of the first campaign, thousands of youth had joined the ‘ardas’ to pray for a drug-free Punjab while thousands of others joined this campaign through online ‘ardas’, he said. This is the first time that a campaign against drugs has been started from the grassroots level, Mann added.

However, the event had its share of politics, as SAD-backed Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami opted to stay away as the event was organised by the AAP-led state government.
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