Amid the ongoing Nasha Mukti campaign to eradicate the menace of drug addiction from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister in the Omar Abdullah government, Satish Sharma, has admitted that the drug mafia survives due to the patronage of "some cops and some politicians".
"It is a hard reality that this menace cannot survive without the patronage of politicians and the police," Sharma said while interacting with media persons at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan in Jammu after attending a function to mark the birth anniversary of Dr B. R. Ambedkar.
"Cops in Jammu and Kashmir are working assiduously to eradicate this menace, but there are some black sheep who are patronising the drug mafia," he said, emphasising the need to expose such elements.
"Those cops who were involved in drug peddling, and during whose tenure drugs reached here from Punjab, should be identified," the minister demanded. He also pointed out that politicians—along with their sons and relatives—who are involved in this menace should be singled out.
"The survival of the drug mafia is not possible without the support of politicians and policemen. Those responsible should be brought to justice as per the law. When the protectors become exploiters, you know how dangerous it becomes," he said.
He added that such wrongdoing cannot occur without the tacit support of some politicians and police officials. However, he noted that their number is small, but they must be held accountable and brought within the ambit of the law.
Asserting that drug trafficking networks have cross-border links, Sharma warned that those involved are indirectly serving the agenda of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
"This is not merely a law-and-order issue; it has serious national security implications," he said, adding that those involved should be treated as traitors.
Praising certain police officers for their efforts to curb the drug menace, the minister said the fight against narcotics must be collective. "We must work together. This is a continuous battle and must not stop until the menace is eradicated," he said.
The minister emphasised that a large network of youth volunteers is ready to assist the police. "Nearly one lakh young volunteers can be mobilised at a single call to fight drugs. Society knows who is involved, but fear prevents people from speaking up."
Sharma called for a compassionate approach towards the rehabilitation of drug-addicted youth.
"There is no shame in seeking treatment. We need world-class de-addiction centres with full confidentiality," he said, adding that several organisations, including the Art of Living Foundation, have expressed willingness to establish such facilities.
He also stressed the need for advanced anti-drone systems to curb cross-border smuggling and called for stronger policy support from the Centre. "Without political will at the national level, this fight cannot be won," he said.
