PM invokes drug-terror link in ‘Mann ki Baat’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the link between terror and drug-money while asking youth to shun narcotics in his latest episode of radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the link between terror and drug-money while asking youth to shun narcotics in his latest episode of radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ on Sunday. Signalling the danger of drugs and suggesting several measures of remedy, the PM also announced a toll-free 24 hours counselling help-line for affected families.

“I wish to ask the addicted youth that have they ever thought where the money, they spend on buying drugs, ultimately go? Think, if this money is going to terrorists to buy arms to kill our soldiers. Think, the bullet may have been bought with the money of your habit of intoxication,” Modi said, as he warned of “darkness, destruction and devastation” of drugs.

“You too, love your country and respect the soldiers of this country. Then how can you help a trade which supports drug-mafias and terrorists?” the PM questioned.

In his third radio-programme, the Prime Minister shared his own experiences with parents of addicts saying that he had seen even strong officers breaking down over their son’s habits. While he suggested that parents should spend more time with their children and help them set a positive ambition in life, he also said, “drug addiction is bad, not the child.”

Modi attributed drug addiction as a “psycho-socio-medical” problem.

Encouraging youth to say “no” to drugs and emphasizing that use of drugs is “no style statements”, the Prime Minister invoked Swami Vivekananda’s teaching and asked sports icons and film and other celebrities to spread awareness against the “national pain”.