Jammu, Apr 15: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said drug abuse wasn’t just a law and order issue but a social cancer requiring every part of society to fight.

Speaking at a public meeting in Ramban as part of the drug-free Jammu Kashmir campaign, LG Sinha said, “I urge for a ‘Whole of Government’ and ‘Whole of Society’ approach. I believe when the government’s strength and society’s resolve act as one, then even the toughest challenges crumble.”

He said that for decades, Pakistan had orchestrated drug smuggling into Jammu and Kashmir to fund terrorism and destroy youth.

“We will map every hotspot. And I promise we will hit each one like a surgical strike. Not a single smuggler will be spared. The entire network will be dismantled,” the LG said.

He led the walk from District Police Line to District Administrative Complex, Ramban.

LG Sinha was joined by public representatives, senior officials of civil and police administration; civil society members, religious leaders, members of business and trade community; ex-servicemen; prominent citizens, various stakeholders, women, students, youth, and people from different walks of life in large number, who were gathered with resolve to eradicate drug addiction at its roots, transform the society, and secure the youth’s future.

He highlighted society’s role in fight against drug menace and called for collective action.

“If the neighbour’s house is on fire, yours is not safe. Because drugs don’t spread like flames but they spread like wind. That’s why a ‘Whole of Society’ response is our only real and potent weapon against drug menace. I firmly believe when society stands united behind a cause, the law becomes a thousand times stronger. We must build a society where the dealer fears law, and the one who breaks free from drugs feels proud of themselves, their family, their society, and their government,” the LG said.

He said history proves that organised societies drive change and women’s power plays a crucial role.

“This fight belongs to mothers and sisters, elders, youth, teachers, panchayats, athletes, and elected representatives alike. It is not the job of just one department. Defeating addiction is our collective responsibility,” LG Sinha said.

He called upon every panchayat and ward to form women’s vigilance committees.

“Women are the frontline of this war. You know where the household money goes. If anyone in the family showing symptom of addiction, don’t hide it. Don’t call him a criminal. Call him a patient. But that patient needs society’s help, not just four walls,” the LG said.

He directly addressed the youth and observed that drugs were not cool but slavery to drugs and drug dealers.

“Channel your energy into sports fields, art, and in study.  In schools and colleges, we will make drugs a symbol of cowardice, not cool. Treatment, identification, and rehabilitation will be our priority,” LG Sinha said.

He said that each drug de-addiction centre must be genuine and equipped with all necessary resources.

“Strict monitoring of these centres is essential. If any centre is found operating illegally or causing harm to society and the youth, it must be shut down within 24 hours without any hesitation, irrespective of how influential the individual running it. No one should be spared. Action is already underway against all such centres,” the LG said.

He directed police officials to break drug supply chains, list all Ramban drug traffickers at police stations and dismantle drug networks.

“The time for silence for society is over. Our divisional and district administration have prepared a comprehensive multi-pronged strategy covering every ward and panchayat. This fight is ours, all of us. If we fail today, future generations won’t forgive us. Let us make a pledge today that no drug dealer will find shelter in our village or our street. Every addict will be guided toward healing. Every young person’s energy will be channelled toward purpose,” LG Sinha said.

He also administered the anti-drug pledge and flagged off a bike rally.

Jammu, Apr 15: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma Wednesday, while crediting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing revolutionary “Naari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023”, asserted that it (Bill) ended a protracted struggle to ensure rightful political representation for women in the country.

He was addressing “Naari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam – Mahila Samvad” organised by an amalgam of women’s organisations at the Central Mahajan Sabha, Shalamar Road, Jammu.

The initiative by J&K Bharatiya Janata Party was aimed at expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring enhanced political representation for women through the historic Naari Shakti Vandan Act, 2023.

Sunil Sharma asserted that the Modi government fundamentally transformed the discourse on women empowerment, from symbolic inclusion to real, institutional participation. He emphasised that while previous governments kept the issue of women’s reservation entangled in political deadlock, it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong will and commitment that translated this long-pending demand into reality.

In a strong endorsement of women’s political empowerment, the Leader of Opposition hailed the Naari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 as a “historic and visionary reform” driven by the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It marks the culmination of decades of struggle to ensure rightful political representation for women. Delaying women’s representation weakens the very foundation of democracy and the Modi government’s push for early implementation of the Act reflects its seriousness in ensuring inclusive governance,” he said.

Sunil Sharma, who graced the occasion as special guest, remarked that the legislation completed the journey from social and economic empowerment to full political empowerment of women, laying the foundation for a stronger, more balanced democracy.

The event witnessed the participation of a wide cross-section of women representation from society including five Inner Wheel teams, ex-DDCs, ex-BDCs, ex-Councillors, former Sarpanches, ex-Panchs, heads and members, Self-Help Groups, social activists, members of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Durga Vahini, Modi Jagran Manch, WWAO, BJP Mahila Morcha, advocates, doctors and citizens from different walks of life.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included BJP J&K vice president and former minister Priya Sethi, BJP spokespersons Purnima Sharma (former Deputy Mayor) and Rajni Sethi, Veenu Khanna, Veena Handa, Amita Sharma, Saavmya Pramukh besides others.

Purnima Sharma, in coordination with other women organisations organised the whole event.

Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Purnima Sharma, termed the Naari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam a “historic structural reform,” stating that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India moved from women development to women-led development, ensuring women’s rightful place in governance.

Ritu Singh, entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of Delhi Public Schools said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a decades-old demand for women’s political reservation was fulfilled. She highlighted that earlier attempts had failed due to political deadlock, but this legislation paved the way for equal participation of women in governance.

She remarked that the Act would lay the foundation for a stronger and more inclusive democracy.

Varsha Bansal, chairperson of FICCI FLO J&K-Ladakh, elaborated on the core provisions of the Act, stating that the legislation aimed at providing 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, including within SC and ST reserved seats, made possible under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She highlighted that despite women forming nearly 50 percent of India’s population, their representation in Parliament remained around 13–14percent, calling the Act a much-needed corrective step.

She said the move from 14 percent to 33 percent represented a structural correction in Indian democracy and would ensure inclusive and balanced governance.

Educationist Anthony emphasised that the Act, brought under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would go beyond representation and had the potential to transform governance outcomes. She noted that greater participation of women would strengthen sectors like education, healthcare, nutrition and social welfare.

She said, “India, which currently lags behind the global average of women’s representation, will benefit significantly from this reform. The initiative will inspire young girls to aspire for leadership roles.”

A representative from Vidyarthi Parishad stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, a long-pending reform was finally realised after decades of delay.

Referring to the success of women’s reservation in Panchayati Raj institutions, the speaker said the Act would take the empowerment from grassroots to Parliament and urged youth to support this transformation.

The speakers also highlighted that under the policies and initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women empowerment was strengthened across sectors—be it financial inclusion, social dignity, healthcare support, or economic opportunities—and the Act would be a natural extension of those efforts into political representation.