Alai Balai fosters social harmony beyond political lines; collective fight needed for drug-free India by 2029: Telangana Guv
Hyderabad, Oct 22 (TNT) : Highlighting the cultural essence of Telangana, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Thursday hailed the annual Alai Balai event as a powerful symbol of social cohesion and mutual respect that unites people across ideological and political divides.
Addressing the gathering at the ‘Datthanna Alai Balai’ programme, hosted by former Union Minister and former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya along with his daughter Bandaru Vijayalakshmi at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds here, the Governor observed that political differences must never erode personal goodwill, camaraderie, and collaboration.
He praised Vijayalakshmi for steadfastly continuing the community tradition pioneered by Dattatreya in 2005.
Sounding an alert on the rising threat of narcotics, Shukla urged collective and sustained action from society to eradicate substance abuse, setting a clear vision for a drug-free India by 2029.
“The drug menace poses an existential challenge to the future of our youth, and law enforcement agencies cannot eliminate it single-handedly,” Shukla said, advocating for an integrated campaign involving educational institutions, community organisations, families, and government bodies.
The Governor highlighted the urgent need to counter the proliferation of dangerous synthetic drugs, recalling that an anti-drug pledge was recently administered to nearly 15,000 students at Hyderabad’s LB Stadium.
He further announced that an expansive anti-drug awareness drive would be organised at Osmania University on October 28.
Urging the youth to stay rooted in native traditions while driving national development, Shukla noted that internal unity and social integration remain the bedrocks of the country’s collective progress.
The festive event drew a host of prominent dignitaries across party lines, including Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, and former Maharashtra Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao, alongside various elected representatives and cultural figures.
Dattatreya felicitated Governor Shukla and his wife, Janaki Shukla, while distinguished achievers from diverse sectors were also honoured during the celebrations.
TNT TS
