Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, August 31: People’s Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal today demanded CBI probe into the state turning into a drug haven with cases increasingly surfacing involving leaders from the Akali Dal-BJP alliance into drug smuggling.
“The latest case is the arrest of BJP leader from Ferozepur Jarnail Singh alias Judge Nimana and his accomplices by the Rajasthan police from whom opium was seized. Earlier, the names of state party chief Kamal Sharma’s associates from the same district including his PA have surfaced in cases of drug smuggling, illegal arms and corruption. The Rajasthan police had earlier on June 29 arrested two Akali Dal-BJP leaders with poppy husk. The trend has been continuing ever since the name of Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia was mentioned by drug lord Jagdish Bhola after his arrest”, he said.
Manpreet expressed concern over the situation turning grim saying these arrests indicated that this was only the tip of the iceberg and the dimensions of this deep-rooted malaise were very wide that called for deeper probe.
He slammed Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal who is also the Home Minister for denying drug problem as the opposition propaganda to malign the state saying he should explain whether the recent arrests of the BJP leaders from Ferozepur too was just a propaganda or a conspiracy by the Rajasthan government which too is being ruled by the BJP.
He reminded him that more than the opposition, it was the BJP that had taken up this issue and even Home Minister Rajnath Singh had expressed his concern publicly from the stage during 350th anniversary celebrations of Anandpur Sahib in his very presence where he kept mum. However, it had now been established that the Akali dal and BJP were allies even in drug smuggling and other anti-social activities.
The PPP chief also referred to the deteriorating law and order situation with reports appearing almost daily of the involvement Akali Dal and BJP associates and even councillors in various crimes and the last case was reported from Rampura Phul about harassment of a girl by a person from the family of an Akali councillor in an Orbit bus.
He said entire environment was being vitiated by the criminals and smugglers in the state who enjoyed political patronage and this was the “main achievement” of this government during the last eight years.
