Budgam: A social transformation programme under the “Asluk Aalav” series was organised at Town Hall Budgam by Al-Rahim Trust on Monday, with Syed Darakhshan Andrabi and Ashok Koul addressing the gathering.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Andrabi said the drug network had been operating alongside terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989 and had deeply affected society. She stressed that the mission against narco-terrorism must become a mass movement in the Union Territory.
She said Jammu and Kashmir must actively contribute to the “Nasha Mukt Bharat” mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that consistent and strong action was necessary to eliminate the menace of drugs from society.
Dr Andrabi said the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board had initiated an anti-drug awareness movement two years ago, with Imams and Khateebs at Waqf-managed mosques and shrines regularly speaking against substance abuse.
She alleged that certain political elements had opposed strict punishment for drug peddlers and attempted to weaken the anti-drug campaign through misleading narratives. However, she said the majority of people had supported the movement under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and appreciated the efforts of police in tackling the issue.
Dr Andrabi also highlighted the need for adopting an environment-friendly lifestyle, saying Jammu and Kashmir’s fragile hill ecosystem needed protection for future sustainability.
Addressing the programme, Ashok Koul emphasised the importance of social transformation and preservation of cultural traditions and moral values among the younger generation.
He said Kashmir’s harmonious culture was rooted in shared values across religious and linguistic communities and stressed the need to build a peaceful, drug-free and tolerant society.
Religious preacher Maulana Owais Qadiri also addressed the gathering.
Fight Against Narco-Terror Must Become Mass Movement in J&K: Darakhshan
