Govt can’t eliminate drug menace alone: Dr Farooq

Srinagar, Apr 24: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday said the government alone cannot eliminate drug addiction and stressed that parents and the wider community must play a central role in tackling the menace.
“Drug menace has caught hold of us. To get rid of it, until parents and people help us, the government cannot say that addiction will end,” Abdullah said, adding that public cooperation is the “biggest factor” in addressing the crisis.
He said collective effort from families and society is essential to reduce the impact of substance abuse. “If people help, the pain of drug addiction will end,” he said.
The former chief minister also spoke on political developments, claiming that the National Conference has “stopped the BJP in Kashmir,” while referring to electoral trends in other states.
He said that in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee is poised for victory, while the Congress is leading in Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, he said, the Congress along with M. K. Stalin’s party is set to win.
Abdullah attributed the expected electoral outcomes to the “grace of Allah.”
On international developments, he called for global efforts to end ongoing conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, saying peace is essential to prevent further suffering.
“If peace does not return to the Middle East, the consequences for the world will be severe. Every country and every leader must try to ensure that this war ends immediately,” he said.
Abdullah expressed hope that the United States leadership would act to de-escalate tensions and urged countries like China and Russia to play a role in ending the conflict at the earliest. (KNS)