Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that to effectively implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Drug-Free India’ (Nashamik Bharat), it is necessary for everyone to make a collective commitment to make ‘Drug-Free Mumbai,’ ‘Drug-Free Maharashtra,’ and ‘Drug-Free India.’ He stressed that the war on drugs is not just a law and order issue but is linked to the future of the nation, for which collective efforts are indispensable.

The ‘Drug-Free Mumbai’ campaign was launched by Chief Minister Fadnavis in Worli today. Mangal Prabhat Lodha (Minister of Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, and Chairman of the High-Level Committee for Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign), Ashwini Bhide (BMC Commissioner), Devin Bharti (Mumbai Police Commissioner), Rubel Agarwal (Mumbai Commissioner), Sub-Commissioner Katraban (Mumbai Commissioner) and others were also present on the occasion. District), Aanchal Goyal (Collector, Mumbai City District), Prachi Jambhikar (Deputy Commissioner – Education, BMC), Sapna Shroff (non-official member of the committee) along with representatives of various NGOs, councilors, medical experts, students and a large number of citizens participated. Chief Minister Fadnavis said that India is making rapid progress in the fields of science, technology, artificial intelligence, space research and defense. In such a situation, a conspiracy is being hatched to weaken India from within by trapping the youth of the country in the clutches of drugs. Drugs are the most dangerous weapon in this secret war and every citizen should consider the fight against them as his own personal war. To create a drug-free society, coordinated efforts are needed between the police, health, social justice and school education departments as well as parents, teachers, students and all sections of society. Strict action will be taken against those involved in the manufacture, trafficking and sale of drugs. Fadnavis stressed that drug peddling gangs, especially around schools and colleges, will be completely eradicated. Stating that if students take a firm resolve to “say no to drugs”, no one will be able to lure them towards addiction, Fadnavis said the government will make every effort to achieve the goal of ‘drug-free Mumbai’ in the next two to four years. He termed students as the eyes and ears of the society and urged them to provide information about people who are inclined towards addiction and those involved in the drug trade. He announced that letters regarding the matter would be sent to the headmasters of all schools in the state and the principals of all colleges, and assured that the government would extend full support in effectively implementing the concepts of ‘drug-free campuses’ and ‘drug-free schools’. The Chief Minister also announced that the identity of those providing information about drugs will be kept confidential and those providing useful information will be rewarded. Focusing on the rehabilitation of addicted youth and bringing them into the mainstream, Chief Minister Fadnavis noted that if the youth stay away from drugs till the age of 21 or 22, they have a better chance of remaining drug-free throughout their lives. He therefore urged the youth to firmly reject drugs and not succumb to any temptation.

Quoting the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Fadnavis said that the power of youth should prove to be a life-giving force for nation-building instead of a destructive force for society. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Bharat Ratna Dr. urged everyone to translate the pledge of ‘Drug-Free Mumbai’ – Inspired by Babasaheb Ambedkar, he administered an oath to the people present to create a drug-free society. Two thousand students from Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools attended the event held at ‘The Dome’ in Worli and took a pledge for a drug-free life. Moreover, students from BMC schools participated in the programme through audio-visual link. BMC students presented dance performances and street plays at the venue.

Let’s turn ‘Drug-Free Mumbai’ campaign into a people’s movement Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha
Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha asserted that ‘Drug-Free Mumbai’ is not just a government campaign but a vast people’s movement driven by active social participation. He said that the campaign will continue till Mumbai is completely drug-free and appealed to every citizen to participate in the campaign as a social responsibility. Stressing that the society should actively engage with the government to thwart conspiracies to lure the youth into the clutches of drugs, Minister Lodha announced that public awareness campaigns, counselling sessions, and anti-drug measures would be implemented in schools, colleges and various educational institutions. He urged parents, teachers, NGOs and every section of the society to take the initiative for a safe future for children. The Central and State Governments are implementing various measures for the all-round development of the youth, he mentioned that the ‘CM Mahadhan’ skill development scheme is set to be launched on August 15.

Islamabad, July 30: The international community must take note of the continued suffering of the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) who have been living under Islamabad’s unauthorised and illegal occupation for decades with their suffering concealed by the occupying authorities through censorship, intimidation, and political repression, a report has detailed.

Pakistan’s ongoing crackdown on people of the occupied region in which dozens of civilians have been killed, injured and arrested has once again showcased the difficult conditions faced by the locals who have repeatedly held protests demanding basic rights, economic justice, transparent governance and accountability, an opinion piece in ‘Rising Kashmir’ mentioned.

Instead of addressing the legitimate concerns of people of PoK, the Pakistani authorities have Instead placed restrictions on the assembly of people, imposed a communication blackout and arrested people. Thousands in PoK have called for freedom from Pakistan and also expressed their desire to become part of India considering the huge development that has been taking place in Jammu and Kashmir under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The report said that the international community must not remain silent at a time when the fundamental rights of the people of PoK are being eroded. An impartial investigation should be conducted into the allegations of killing, arbitrary detention of people, suppression of protests and violence against people and those responsible for violations of human rights must be held accountable.

According to the report, the demands of the people of PoK should not be ignored or suppressed and sustainable peace can only be achieved through respect for democratic values, human dignity, the rule of law and not force or intimidation.

“It is imperative that international human rights institutions, including the UN, not only condemn the illegalities happening in PoJK but also ensure that Pakistan stops all types of brutalities. Action must be taken against all those involved in the killing of civilians,” Parimoksh Seth wrote in the ‘Rising Kashmir’.

“The people of PoJK deserve justice, dignity, the opportunity to live in peace and freedom to decide which country they want to be part of. UN has to ensure that people in PoJK are at liberty to decide their future. However, the UN has failed to act and has just become a puppet organisation,” he added.

Over 40 people have been killed and dozens injured in PoK during the ongoing brutal crackdown by Pakistani forces amid escalating unrest in the region.

Citing reports, the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) on Wednesday said that around 40 civilians were killed, while several others were injured and arbitrarily arrested between July 27 and 28 in Rawalakot, Mirpur, and other areas of the occupied territory.

Expressing grave concern, the group alleged that more than 100 people have been killed since June 5, several hundred have been critically injured, and hundreds have reportedly been subjected to enforced disappearance by the Pakistani security forces.

Condemning the atrocities by Pakistani forces, the UKPNP said that the “use of excessive or unlawful force against peaceful civilians would constitute serious violations of international human rights law and may amount to crimes under international law.”

The group called on the UN, the European Union and the wider international community to take immediate steps to “help protect civilians, support impartial and independent investigations into the reported incidents, and encourage respect for international human rights obligations.”

New Delhi, July 30: A 21-year-old woman who was injured during the police action at the July 20 Jantar Mantar protest has shown satisfactory clinical recovery and was discharged from Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital on Thursday.

The hospital said the decision to discharge her was taken after taking her stable condition and overall recovery into consideration.

The woman, who had participated in the protest, was brought to RML Hospital in an unconscious state after suffering asphyxia during a stampede-like situation that occurred amid the Parliament march.

Her condition had initially required intensive care and ventilatory support for several days. However, she gradually improved and regained full consciousness and independent mobility nearly ten days after being admitted to the hospital.

In its latest medical update issued on Thursday, RML Hospital said the patient had made a “satisfactory recovery following comprehensive critical care management” after undergoing treatment and rehabilitation.

“On admission, she was resuscitated in the Emergency Department and shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where she was managed on ventilatory support. Following sustained clinical improvement, she was successfully weaned off ventilatory support and, after one week in the ICU, was shifted to the Nursing Home ward for further recovery and rehabilitation,” the hospital said.

The hospital further stated that Thursday marked the 10th day of the woman’s hospitalisation and that she had reached a stable condition and was “fully conscious, alert, coherent, and hemodynamically stable” and had resumed a normal oral diet.

RML Hospital also said that she was ambulatory without assistance and had regained the ability to independently perform her regular daily activities, indicating significant improvement from the condition in which she was initially admitted.

“In view of her satisfactory clinical recovery and stable condition, she is being discharged today with appropriate medical advice and follow-up instructions,” the hospital added.

The woman was among the protesters who participated in the July 20 demonstration at Jantar Mantar, which was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) under the banner of ‘Sansad Chalo’.

The protest was held to demand accountability from the government over the NEET paper leaks and other examination-related irregularities, along with action to address concerns raised by students.

The demonstration later turned violent when some miscreants resorted to stone-pelting, following which security personnel used mild force to disperse the demonstrators. The clashes during the protest resulted in several protesters and police personnel sustaining serious injuries.