New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged all state governments to join the fight against the nation's drug problem and put aside their political differences on Wednesday. Shah said to eradicate the menace of drugs a "ruthless approach" must be taken against narcotics traders in order to eliminate the threat posed by drugs.
He was speaking at the first conference of the heads of state and Union territory Anti-Narcotics Task Forces.
Shah stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs, under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has set a goal to create a drug-free India by 2047, when the country celebrates its 100th year of independence.
"Drug traders are the main culprits as the drug consumers are the victims. We have to take a ruthless approach against the drug traders and the strongest possible action should be taken against them,” he said.
The home minister stated that the Narendra Modi government is committed to eradicating the drug problem and that it should be tackled with a "whole of government" strategy because it can harm future generations.
"Narcotics not only make the young generation hollow, but along with this, there are many bad effects on the country's economy as well. Simultaneously, through narco-terror, through smuggling of narcotics, the security of the country's border can be breached.... If the 130 crore Indians fight it together, we will win this battle," he said.
Shah urged everyone to put politics aside and asked the state governments to unite in the fight against drugs despite their political differences.
"If we think about the fight against narcotics, it seems very difficult, but if we fight it after planning, then the way to victory opens up quickly. And the recent results in this fight against drugs are encouraging," he said.
He said that a map of states and districts that make up the drug network needs to be made. Without the map, it would be impossible to know how widespread the problem is or where to focus attention.
The home minister said this battle against narcotics should be battled by the government as well as by making it a people's fight.
He said that the fight against drugs must take a "top of the bottom and bottom to top" approach. When the smallest amount of a drug is discovered, its source must be discovered, the drug network must be investigated, and only then will it be successful.
Shah said many countries have taken the wrong approach by targeting drug consumers as the real culprits are the drug traffickers.
He said when a drug consignment is seized, on the off chance that it has economic angle, it should be given to the Enforcement Directorate for investigation, in the event that any international terror link is found, it should be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has abilities to test cases abroad, and a few cases can likewise be given to the CBI.