States » NorthPosted at: Sep 27 2026 12:55PM


Haryana declares war on drugs as 1.35 lakh runners storm Surajkund Marathon

Faridabad, Sep 27 (UNI) Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday turned the historic Surajkund grounds into a battlefield against narcotics, flagging off the "Nasha-Mukt Haryana Faridabad Namo Marathon 2026" with a blunt, unvarnished warning to addiction.
Over 1.35 lakh registered participants, with near-total attendance, transformed the event from a mere road race into a mass mobilisation of collective conscience, as Haryana sent out a single, resounding message: the state will not surrender its youth to drugs.
The sheer scale of the marathon stunned even seasoned administrators. With 21 km, 10 km and 5 km categories, the event drew everyone from elite athletes to elderly citizens, from college students to homemakers, all united by one finish line: a Haryana free from substance abuse. The CM, in his address, made it clear that the footsteps pounding the Surajkund track were not just running; they were marching against a social evil that weakens bodies, shatters families and hollows out communities.
Saini did not soften his rhetoric. He told the sea of participants that Haryana's identity is built on sweat, medals and courage, not on narcotics. He demanded that every young person look addiction in the eye and reject it with absolute finality.
In a defining moment, he administered a mass oath, binding thousands of runners to stay away from drugs and to pull their friends, families and neighbors away from it too. The pledge turned the marathon into a sworn campaign, not a Sunday spectacle.
The event was not an isolated gesture. It was deliberately anchored to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years of public service, being observed through the "Seva Sankalp Abhiyan" from September 17 to October 17.
Saini framed the marathon as a ground-shaking jolt of awareness within that broader mission, linking the "Nasha Mukt Yuva, Viksit Bharat" slogan to real, street-level action. He warned that the fight against drugs is not the sole burden of the government or the police; it is the non-negotiable responsibility of every household, every school and every village.
The Chief Minister also smashed the stigma of seeking help. He declared that asking for assistance to combat addiction is not weakness; it is an act of courage. Through the "Haryana Uday" campaign, his administration is pushing the anti-drug message into every district and every village, ensuring that silence does not become the accomplice of the dealer.
As runners crossed the finish line, the message was already racing ahead of them. The 21.1 km men's title was claimed by Prashant Chaudhary, with Vikram Singh and Anuj Meena finishing behind him. In the women's 21.1 km, Sonika took top honors, followed by Manav Rana and Bhumika. The 10 km races saw Rohit Kumar and Neeru Rani emerge as champions in the men's and women's categories respectively.
Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar, Revenue Minister Vipul Goel, Food and Civil Supplies Minister of State Rajesh Nagar, Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam and several legislators shared the stage, but the real political statement was made by the 1.35 lakh foot soldiers on the track. Their presence turned the marathon into one of the largest civilian mobilisation against drugs in recent memory.
Saini closed with a war cry that echoed well beyond the stadium: "We will not consume drugs. We will not let others consume them. We will pour youth power into nation-building, not into addiction."
As the crowd thundered "Bharat Mata Ki Jay," Surajkund ceased to be just a tourist destination. It became ground zero of Haryana's counter-offensive against narcotics. The race ended at the finish line. The real fight, Haryana made brutally clear, has only begun.
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Tags: #Haryana declares war on drugs as 1.35 lakh runners storm Surajkund Marathon
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