Oppn ready to support Himachal govt in eradicating drug menace: Jai Ram

Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, while raising concerns over the rising drug menace in Himachal Pradesh, called for the urgent need for its complete eradication.

- HT Correspondents

DHARAMSHALA/SHIMLA Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, while raising concerns over the rising drug menace in Himachal Pradesh, called for the urgent need for its complete eradication.

Jai Ram urged the state government to take the issue seriously, assuring that the opposition is committed to supporting efforts to combat drug abuse at every level. Addressing the media in Dharamshala on Monday, Thakur reiterated the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) commitment to eliminating the scourge of drug abuse from the state. "The alarming spread of drug abuse in Himachal Pradesh shows that the government is not taking the issue seriously. In the past three weeks alone, reports have emerged of four youths losing their lives due to drug overdose," he said.

Thakur said that the government, in the assembly, has officially confirmed 11 deaths due to drug overdose from the formation of the Sukhu government until July 31, 2024. "Due to significant social pressure, many cases of drug overdose go unreported, and the actual numbers are much higher than the official figures. Therefore, without any further delay, we must launch a decisive fight against drug abuse," he said.