He made the remarks while launching the nationwide "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan" campaign against substance abuse.

Key Points

• PM Modi said "profiting from supplying drugs and aiming to destroy a nation like ours is also part of their terror agenda."
• He said hostile countries conspire to drag Indian youth into the trap of addiction, warning that national strength weakens as a result.
• The remarks came at the launch of a 100-week nationwide anti-drug campaign aimed at mobilising over one crore youth.
• Modi urged society to respect and embrace those who overcome drug addiction rather than stigmatising them.
• Officials linked the concerns to narco-terrorism, describing India's position between the Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle drug trafficking regions as a key vulnerability.

What PM Modi Said

Addressing young people at the campaign launch, PM Modi said that when a young person falls prey to drug addiction, more than the individual is lost, calling it the loss of a dream. He said the consequences extend beyond individuals and families to weaken the nation's overall strength, adding that hostile countries "conspire to leave no stone unturned to drag our youth into the trap of addiction."

Describing narcotics trafficking as a deliberate strategy to harm India, he said, "Profiting from supplying drugs and aiming to destroy a nation like ours is also part of their terror agenda. Hence, we need to save every youth from addiction." He cautioned young people that "drugs give you a high for a while, but they destroy your family," and separately said addiction can leave "your entire career and personal life low."

Call for Compassion Toward Recovering Addicts

Beyond warning about the dangers of narcotics, PM Modi questioned the social stigma attached to drug addicts, saying those who overcome addiction are fighters who deserve respect rather than exclusion. "Society should respect them, embrace them and give them a second chance," he said, calling on communities to support recovery rather than isolate those affected.

The Narco-Terrorism Link

The campaign's launch materials highlighted concerns about narco-terrorism, referring to the use of money generated through illegal drug trafficking to finance terrorist activities, purchase weapons and sustain extremist networks. Officials have repeatedly pointed to India's geographic position between the Golden Crescent, comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, and the Golden Triangle, comprising Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, as a factor making the country vulnerable to international drug trafficking networks that use it both as a transit route and a target market.

Context of the Launch

PM Modi launched the campaign virtually in the presence of a large number of youth, including some who described themselves as representatives of Gen-Z, days after large-scale student protests demanding public examination reforms had rocked Delhi and other parts of the country. He called on young people to lead the fight against drug abuse and take responsibility for shaping India's future toward the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

FAQ

What did PM Modi say about drug trafficking?
He described drug supply to India as part of hostile nations' terror agenda, aimed at weakening the country by targeting its youth.

What campaign was he launching when he made these remarks?
The "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan," a 100-week nationwide anti-drug campaign.

Why is India considered vulnerable to drug trafficking, according to officials?
Its geographic location between the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran) and Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand) drug-producing regions.

What's Next

The Nasha Mukt Yuva campaign's weekly activities are expected to continue rolling out across nearly 10,000 locations nationwide, with the narco-terrorism concerns PM Modi raised likely to feature in ongoing security and law enforcement responses to drug trafficking networks.