The movement has been triggered by the recent viral videos showing the toll drug abuse is taking on the state’s youth.
New Delhi: People in Punjab will observe a ‘black week’ starting today against ‘chitta’, with celebrities from different fields joining the bandwagon to address the border state’s drugs epidemic. Chitta, which literally means white, is a reference to drugs like heroin and cocaine.
Two videos, one of them showing a youth dying of drug overdose and the other featuring a couple begging for help for their addict son, went viral last week, leading people to question the state’s efforts to check the spread of drugs – one of the primary poll planks of the current Amarinder Singh-led administration.
The movement, ‘Maro ja virodh karo (die or protest), is a result of this disaffection among the state’s citizens, organisers said.
“The video of the mother whose son died due to drug overdose, really struck our minds. So I discussed the issue with four-five friends, and we all came to the conclusion that it’s time the government wakes up and takes up this issue,” said Panjab University professor Pali Bhupinder Singh, one of the founders of the movement.
The movement also has a page on Facebook, with organisers planning a hashtag thrust on Twitter in the coming days.
The cover picture of the Facebook page reads, “Eh chitta maa di kirania da rang hai, eh chitta saddhe leaderan di besharmi ate punjabian di maut da rang hai (The chitta is the color of a mother’s shrieks, it is the colour of the government’s shamelessness and the deaths of Punjabis).”
How will the protest happen?
The protest is non-violent and silent. People will gather in small groups at the junctions of their respective villages, towns and cities and light candles. People will also light candles, torches and earthen lamps at the offices of government officials and leaders. There will be street plays too.
To mark their protest, participants have to wear black, whether the turban, chunni or parna (a casual version of turban), throughout the week. People can also choose to tie black ribbons and wear a black badge.
Posters uploaded on the Facebook page say every supporter should meet people and try bringing them on board the campaign.
Renowned agricultural economist and Padma Bhushan awardee and Sardara Singh Johl was spotted at a related protest in Ludhiana Saturday.
Can you believe that a VC of 3 universities, advisor of reserve bank and Padma Bhushan award winner Sardara Singh Johl was standing at a road in Ludhiana holding banner of #MaroJaVirodhKaro @BaltejPannu @BBCHindi
@ZeePunjab @abpsanjha @News18Punjab @ndtv @NewsNationTV pic.twitter.com/gA5mcvy6Gn— ਮਰੋ ਜਾਂ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਕਰੋ-Maro ja virodh kro (@MaroJaVirodhKar) June 30, 2018
Not taking support from politicians
The Facebook page, which has over 10,000 likes, was launched on 25 June. Since then, followers have been making posts about new overdose deaths.
A video of renowned comedian Rana Ranbir showing support for the movement was also shared. Renowned singer Harbhajan Mann and Punjabi actor Dev Kharoud have also uploaded videos in support.
According to Pali, the movement is apolitical. “No funds will be generated and no politician is welcomed. I got a call from the Aam Aadmi Party to show support, but I denied it, since we don’t want any kind of politicisation of the event,” he added.
“We are telling people that this is the time, people should ask their leaders, ask their representatives why they have been silent on this issue and how they are going to solve this,” Pali said.