Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha takes part in an anti-drug rally in Kulgam on Monday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In the once-volatile district of Kulgam in south Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s anti-drug rally on Monday saw a rare support from the Justice and Development Front (JDF), which is the breakaway faction of banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI).Mr. Sinha spearheaded the rally from Kulgam’s Khudwani town. Most schools remained closed in the district to ensure participation in the rally. Public transport remained off the roads. JDF general secretary Sayar Ahmad Reshi and district patron Mohammad Yousuf Rather and Kulgam president Bilal Ahmad Mir attended the L-G’s rally. Also Read | 806 locals held, 97 properties attached, 41 demolished in anti-drug drive in J&K in 30 days: DGP Nalin Prabhat “Hundreds of workers, members, and supporters of the JDF participated in the ongoing Nasha Mukt Abhiyan at Kulgam, an initiative organised under the guidance of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha ji,” said a spokesman of the JDF.No elected representative of the ruling National Conference (NC) from south Kashmir attended the rally.The JDF spokesman said the party believed that true freedom from addiction required addressing not only narcotic drugs but also alcohol, which had devastating social and health consequences. “The JDF remains committed to building a healthier and safer society and calls upon all sections of the community to join this movement. The party envisions a future where Jammu and Kashmir becomes a drug-free and alcohol-free region, ensuring a better life for present and future generations,” said the JDF spokesman.The JDF-J&K was floated in Kashmir in 2024 and contested in the Assembly elections. However, no candidate managed to win any seat in Kashmir. It’s a breakaway faction of the JeI, which was banned by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2019 and declared “an illegal association” under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for a period of five years. The ban was extended till 2029 in 2024. Meanwhile, buoyed by the impressive participation of locals, Mr. Sinha said, “Fifty-one days ago, people of Jammu and Kashmir kindled a spark of change. With massive participation of the people that spark has become a fierce flame of hope, courage and resolve.”He said the ongoing campaign was “striking directly at the financial backbone of terrorism”. “Every rupee spent on drugs fuels extremist violence, and narco-terrorists survive on that blood money. By halting the drug trade, we cut off the lifeline that sustains terror networks,” said Mr. Sinha.He asked people to join the fight for national security. “When we choke off drug smuggling, we weaken those who seek to destabilise our nation, spill the blood of innocent people, and divert our youth from the path of progress,” said the Lieutenant Governor.At least 923 FIRs have been registered against drug traffickers in the last 51 days. Officials said more than 1,000 drug smugglers and peddlers had been arrested, over 55 traffickers had been detained under PIT-NDPS provisions, 668 driving licences had been cancelled, and recommendations had been made to revoke 124 passports.“The fight against drugs is not limited to raids and arrests but the administration is also working on breaking the supply chain, generating public awareness and working towards dignified rehabilitation for those suffering from addiction. We will ensure our youth are freed from the grip of addiction, return to the mainstream of society, and become the strength that will lead Jammu and Kashmir toward a brighter tomorrow,” the Lieutenant Governor added. Published - June 02, 2026 01:20 am IST
