9,300 kg seized drugs worth Rs 1,235 cr to be destroyed in presence of Amit Shah in Bengaluru
New Delhi, Mar 23: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will oversee destruction of 9,298 kilograms of seized drugs valued at Rs 1,235 crore in Bengaluru on Friday as part of the Modi government's zero tolerance policy against narcotics.
The drugs will be destroyed on the sidelines of a regional conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' to be held in the Karnataka's capital, an official statement said.
A target to destroy 75,000 kg drugs was set during a 75-day campaign beginning June 1, 2022 but a total of 5,94,620 kg of drugs valued at Rs 8,409 crore have been destroyed so far, overachieving the target, the statement said.
Out of the total drugs destroyed, 1,29,363 kg of seized drugs valued at Rs 3,138 crore has been destroyed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) alone while the rest of the narcotics were seized by other agencies and state police forces.
Shah will chair the conference which will be attended by representatives from five southern states and three Union territories.
During the meeting, due emphasis will be laid on aspects like ways to curtail drug trafficking through maritime route, stringent punitive action on drug traffickers resulting into zero tolerance, seamless coordination and cooperation between state and central drug law enforcement agencies and containment of spread of drug abuse through concerted awareness programmes.
On the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Home Affairs has adopted a three-pronged formula of strengthening the institutional structure, empowerment and coordination of all narcotics agencies and a comprehensive awareness campaign to crack down on narcotics.
The government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, has adopted a policy of zero tolerance against drugs to make a drug-free India, the statement said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Veteran politician, BJP MP & ex-Union minister Srinivasa Prasad passes away
Bengaluru (PTI): Veteran politician, BJP MP and former Union Minister V Srinivasa Prasad died on Monday, family sources said.
The 76-year-old Lok Sabha member from Chamarajnagar was ailing for some time and being treated at a private hospital, where he passed away early today.
Prasad is survived by wife and three daughters.
He was a six-time MP from Chamarajanagar and also served as MLA from Nanjangud in Mysuru district for two terms.
On March 18 this year, Prasad announced his retirement from electoral politics, marking his 50 years in public life.
He first contested Assembly elections as an independent in 1974.
Prasad joined the erstwhile Janata Party in 1976 and switched over to the Congress in 1979. He also had a stint with the JD(S), JD (U), and the Samata Party before crossing over to the BJP.
Prasad served as the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1999 to 2004.
He returned to the Congress fold later, got elected as an MLA in 2013 and became Revenue Minister in the Siddaramaiah government.
In 2016, Prasad resigned from the Assembly and rejoined the BJP. He contested the 2017 Nanjangud bypolls on a BJP ticket but lost. He then successfully fought the Lok Sabha election from Chamarajanagar in 2019.
Condoling his death, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described Prasad as a strong voice for the oppressed Dalits.
"The departure of the leader who lived the struggle against injustice and inequality is a big setback for the political struggle for social justice in the state," he added.
"He was a progressive-thinking political leader. Although we worked in different parties for a long time in old Mysuru region, we maintained a respectful relationship with each other. When I met him recently, we reminisced. I never thought Prasad would leave us so soon," the CM said.
BJP stalwart and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said: 'I met him only a few days ago and I can't believe that he is not with us now. He was recognised as an influential Dalit leader who had made his mark in the politics of the state and the country."
