Jammu, Apr 10: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday appealed to all the fellow citizens of Jammu and Kashmir to be active partners in an intensive 100-day mass campaign against drug abuse and join “Pad-Yatra” on April 11 to initiate a journey towards “drug-free J&K.”

Asserting that J&K was passing through a very critical phase, LG Sinha, in his appeal through a video message, exhorted J&K people to lead a movement against drugs as a collective societal response to save the future of youth.

The mass-campaign will begin with “Pad-Yatra” (foot-march) tomorrow (April 11, 2026) from M A Stadium, Jammu.

“J&K is at a crossroads. It is standing at a very decisive phase (of its journey). Under a deep-rooted conspiracy, the youth of J&K are being pushed to drugs, made addicts. This is a conspiracy hatched to ruin our entire young generation. In 2020, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan” (Drug-free India movement) was launched,” the Lieutenant Governor stated.

He recalled that following it (nationwide campaign), in Jammu and Kashmir also, many endeavours were made to fight the menace (of drug abuse) and make it (UT) drug-free.

“Last year in 2025, a massive anti-drug campaign was launched here (in J&K). Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security forces too are running effective campaigns against drug abuse. Despite such intensive campaigns and action-oriented programmes, the need was felt for a collective societal response in the form of a mass-campaign involving diverse sections of the society across J&K against the drug-trafficking and drug smugglers,” the Lieutenant Governor stated.

He shared that to achieve that objective, a comprehensive plan was chalked out.

“As a part of this strategy, a 100-day intensive campaign has been planned, which will be rolled out with a “Pad Yatra” from M A Stadium of Jammu on April 11. The members of civil society, representatives of all political parties, academicians, sports persons and people from all walks of life have been invited to participate. We will take a pledge against drugs and also undertake a “Pad Yatra” (foot-march). This “Pad-Yatra” will be undertaken across Jammu and Kashmir,” LG Sinha informed.

Calling for a united fight against the menace, the Lieutenant Governor said, “I appeal to all of you – to every section of the society. This movement is not that of an individual. This is a mass movement as it involves the question of the future of youth of entire J&K. We are confronting such harrowing, heart-wrenching experiences almost on a daily basis which shake us to the core.”

“I humbly request you to consider this campaign as your personal campaign and be a part of it to make it a mass movement. This is not just a “Pad-Yatra”. It will be a journey to achieve our mission to make J&K drug-free and enable the administrative machinery to take an effective, stringent action against the drug smugglers,” LG Sinha asserted.

He stated that the administration had planned an intensive campaign, aimed at eradicating drug abuse from the Union Territory.

“It will be marked by a series of high-impact awareness programmes. All the departments of J&K government, Police and security forces will carry out this campaign in perfect synergy. I appeal to all the citizens of J&K to actively participate in every programme chalked by the administration in your respective districts, as a part of this campaign. Besides, being a participant, be a partner in this movement and also lead it,” he urged the citizens, adding, “I’ll try, myself, to reach every district of J&K, undertake “Pad Yatra” to provide a desired momentum to this campaign and request people to join wholeheartedly.”