Hyderabad: The first phase of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Yatra will take place across Hyderabad on November 25, 26 and 27.
Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy will lead the yatra, also called Hyderabad Walks for Nasha Mukt Bharat. As part of the preparations, a conference of intellectuals met at Visvesvaraya Bhavan in Khairatabad. Kishan Reddy attended as the chief guest.
A skit on the harm drug abuse does to youth moved the audience deeply. Later, participants pledged to work for a drug-free society.
Kishan Reddy seeks collective action for Nasha Mukt Bharat Yatra
Kishan Reddy told the media the Narendra Modi government had started a people’s movement to make India drug-free by 2029. He invited citizens from all sections of society to join the campaign. These include artists, film personalities, sportspersons, industrialists, educational institutions, media representatives and intellectuals, he said.
He described youth as India’s greatest strength. However, he warned that drug abuse posed a serious threat to the country’s future. He urged people to treat the narcotics menace as a challenge that needs collective action. The responsibility should not rest only with the government and police, he said.
Rajya Sabha MP Dr. K. Laxman, former MLA Chintala Ramachandra Reddy and former DGP Dinesh Reddy attended the meeting. Major General V.R. Mahendra (Retd), Dr. Siddhartha Reddy, JNTU representative Kishan Kumar Reddy and psychiatrist Dr. Sudhakar were also present. Several academicians, NGO representatives and social activists took part too.
