Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann inaugurated a monumental anti-drug cycle rally, touted as the country’s largest, from the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, coinciding with the martyrdom day of Kartar Singh Sarabha, a Ghadar leader hanged by the British at age 19 in the fight for India’s freedom.
The government’s official statement highlighted the participation of over 25,000 youths in this rally aimed at breaking the drug menace, termed as the “largest cycle rally in the country.”
Accompanied by Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu, and PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, CM Mann joined the stage for the flagging-off ceremony and also cycled to mark the rally’s commencement.
The rally, organized by Ludhiana police in collaboration with the local administration, is expected to engage more than 20,000 cyclists, according to CP Sidhu, who labeled it as a groundbreaking event against drugs, unprecedented in scale and purpose.
Addressing the audience before the rally, CM Mann emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating it was more than a political demonstration but a united effort to uplift Punjab. He stressed the need to guide those astray and highlighted Punjab’s history steeped in sacrifice for the nation’s cause.
Asserting Punjab’s determination to combat drugs, Mann assured that the state would not succumb to any plot aiming to tarnish its image. He expressed gratitude to Ludhiana’s industrial representatives, calling them allies and acknowledging their contributions through timely tax payments.
Reaffirming his commitment to Punjab’s welfare, Mann declared that the state was now in the capable hands of its people.
The rally, covering 13 kilometers, will conclude at the starting point. Commissioner Sidhu mentioned that soil from various martyr sites, including those linked to Kartar Singh Sarabha, Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Udham Singh, and Shaheed Sukhdev, will be brought to the PAU campus, where five symbolic trees will be planted.
The event witnessed diverse participation, ranging from doctors, industrialists, students, youth clubs, to village sarpanchs. Sidhu announced a lucky draw offering new cycles to 151 selected participants as part of the event’s culmination.
