Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday referred to the ‘Youth Spiritual Conference’ as a significant step towards the campaign for a drug-free India from his constituency, Varanasi.
While sharing an article based on this conference, he praised the involvement of youth in this initiative. The conference was held on the sacred ghats of Kashi under the ‘My Bharat’ initiative, with the theme “Drug-Free Youth for a Developed India.” This event took place as part of the Modi government’s campaign for a drug-free India, aimed at liberating the country from addiction under the leadership of the youth.
Prime Minister Modi responded to a post by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, stating, “Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya elaborates on how the Youth Spiritual Conference is a significant step towards building a drug-free India. This is a must-read!”
The Youth Affairs and Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, said, “My work is to spread the word and concept to the society; after that, the society itself will carry this message on their own.” The minister said, Most of the children of our society are busy with making reels. They should come forward to build the nation.
These remarks were made by Union Minister of Youth Affairs, Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, during the release of the ‘Kashi Declaration Document’ on the final day of the Youth Spiritual Conference, which took place on Sunday. This three-day conference was organised under the banner of the ‘MyIndia Organisation’ at the Rudraksh International Centre in Varanasi.
Mandaviya stated, ‘Today, we formally accept the Kashi Declaration Document, developed based on in-depth reflections during various thematic sessions over the past three days, in the interest of the nation. It has emerged not merely as a document but as a collective resolution for India’s youth. Through this, a roadmap can be established to achieve the goal of making youth free from addiction.’
He stated that the Kashi manifesto considers substance abuse a challenge to public health and society. It promotes a culture of moderation while assisting in addiction prevention and rehabilitation.
Additionally, it emphasises the integration of spiritual, cultural, educational, and technical efforts. An institutional mechanism will be established for coordination with various ministries under the manifesto. This will form a joint national committee that will submit annual progress reports and work to connect individuals affected by addiction with support services.
The declaration will serve as a guiding document
Mandaviya stated that this declaration will function as a guiding charter. It will be reviewed during the Developed India, Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 to ensure its continuity, progress, and accountability. On this occasion, the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shiv Pratap Shukla, remarked that the sacred land of Kashi is the origin of eternal consciousness, where discipline and values guide the journey of life towards liberation. He cautioned that if 65% of a nation’s population is young and falls prey to addiction, only those who are free from it will be able to shape the future.
In this conference, several distinguished individuals participated, including Dr. Virendra Kumar (Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment), Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Minister of Culture and Tourism), Anil Rajbhar (Minister of State for Labour and Employment), Nityanand Rai (Minister of State for Home), Raksha Khadse (Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports), Nitin Agarwal (Minister of State for Excise and Prohibition), and Girish Chandra Yadav (Minister of Sports, Uttar Pradesh), all of whom contributed valuable insights.