No place for those selling chitta in Himachal Pradesh: Chief Minister

SHIMLA 16 September, 2026

• CM leads anti-chitta awareness walkathon in Una
• Declares holiday in all schools across Una district on 17 September

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today lead an anti-chitta awareness walkathon organized in Una and appealed to the people of Himachal Pradesh, especially the youth, to actively participate in the decisive fight against drugs.
The walkathon began at Indira Stadium and proceeded towards the new bus stand and concludes at the stadium. A large number of students and common people across the district participated in the event with great enthusiasm. Earlier, the Chief Minister administered the anti-chitta pledge to the participants, urging them to remain vigilant and contribute to the campaign against drugs.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that the state government was taking firm and sustained action against the menace of drugs. However, he emphasized that government and police action alone cannot completely address the problem and active support and cooperation of every section of society was essential.
The Chief Minister said, ‘I want to clearly say from the land of Una that there is no place in Himachal for those who sell chitta, destroy the lives of our youth for money. He said the government’s policy was clear and uncompromising when it comes to those involved in the illegal drug trade. Strict action would be taken against people selling chitta and those involved in drug trafficking, in accordance with the law. At the same time, the government would adopt a compassionate approach towards young people who had already fallen into addiction and extend every possible support to help them recover and return to a normal life.
He stressed that those involved in selling drugs and those struggling with addiction could not be viewed or treated in the same manner. While drug peddlers must face strict legal action, young people caught in the cycle of addiction need support, care and an opportunity to rebuild their lives.
Appealing to the youth, Sh. Sukhu urged them to ensure that none of their friends falls into the trap of Chitta. He said that friends were often the first to notice changes in one another’s behaviour and could therefore play an important role in preventing drug abuse at an early stage.
‘Your small act of alertness can save someone’s son, someone’s daughter and can prevent a family from falling apart,’ the Chief Minister said. He added that a true friend was one who holds the hand of a friend and prevents them from taking the wrong path, rather than allowing them to move towards drug abuse.
The Chief Minister said that the police was taking continuous action against chitta networks and drug traffickers in accordance with the law. However, he pointed out that the battle against drugs cannot be won by relying on the police alone. ‘Police can arrest a trafficker and the government can make laws, but it is the family, friends, teachers and society that can stop a child from taking drugs for the first time,’ he added.
He said that this understanding forms the basis of the state government’s approach to tackling the drug menace and was why the fight against drugs had been transformed into a people’s movement.
Sh. Sukhu called for the collective participation of all sections of society, saying, “In this fight, I need the support of every mother, every father, every teacher, every panchayat, every Mahila Mandal, every Yuva Mandal and, most importantly, the youth of Himachal Pradesh. Today, I am giving this responsibility to the youth of the state.”
Calling upon young people to become soldiers of the anti-drug campaign, he urged them not to remain silent if they come across the sale of Chitta or other drug-related activities. He appealed them to share reliable information with the authorities through the toll-free emergency number 112. He also said that the state government had made provisions to reward people who provide reliable information that helps in the fight against the drug trade.
The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s resolve to protect the youth of Himachal Pradesh and said that the state would not be allowed to surrender to the threat posed by Chitta.
He recalled that the Anti-Chitta campaign was launched around nine months ago with the same resolve to unite society against the drug menace. On 5th November, 2025, thousands of people took to the streets of Shimla to raise their voice against drugs. This was followed by a similar public mobilisation in Dharamshala on 1st December, while the youth of Hamirpur added new energy to the campaign on 16th December. On 26th December, thousands of people in Bilaspur walked together to convey the message that the people of Himachal Pradesh stand united in the fight against chitta.
The Chief Minister said that nearly nine months after the launch of the campaign, the same spirit of determination and unity was visible in Una. ‘Today, we have not gathered here simply to take part in a walkathon. We are walking for our children and our families. We are walking for the future of Himachal Pradesh,’ he said.
He said that the growing participation of people, particularly young people, reflects increasing awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. When society comes together and remains vigilant, he said, no drug, drug mafia or other social evil can stand against the collective strength of the people.
Appreciating the enthusiasm of the participants, Sh. Sukhu said that despite temperatures ranging between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius, students had travelled from distant areas to participate in the walkathon. He lauded their enthusiasm and commitment to the campaign and expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to making the event successful.
He also thanked Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, MLAs Rakesh Kalia, Sudarshan Bablu and Vivek Sharma and all the officers and officials involved in organizing the event.
He announced a holiday in all government and private schools across Una district on 17 September.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the three-storey Block Development Office Building at Una, constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.87 crore. He also laid the foundation stone of the Rampur bridge on Santoshgarh road, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 9.55 crore.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, MLAs Sudarshan Bablu, Rakesh Kalia and Vivek Sharma, Congress leader Satpal Raizada, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Castes Commission Kuldeep Kumar, Members Vijay Dogra and Digvijay Malhotra, Anti-Chitta Board Coordinator Naresh Thakur, Co-Coordinator Sanjay Bhardwaj, Chairman Digvijay Sharma, Advocate General Anoop Rattan, District Congress President Deshraj Gautam, Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.