Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, People’s Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal today called upon the political class in the state to first make solemn commitment that narcotics would not be distributed during elections as allurement to the voters as a first step of the antidrug campaign in case there was any element of sincerity.
In a statement, Manpreet made it clear that without such a commitment, such campaigns would only be sham as it is too well known that the distribution of bhukki and other narcotics during the elections in Punjab was too widespread. This was besides other allurements to buy votes.
He said even for taking people to the rallies, the political parties offered liquor to the people and this had been going on for the last so many years in the state. He said it was nothing new when people were seen at the anti-drug rally of the Akali Dal at Attari border carrying narcotics and drinking in buses. He said in case every bus going to the political conferences was searched, boxes of liquor would be recovered. The situation had deteriorated to such an extent that the voters had started openly asking for narcotics.
He pointed out it was for tgis reason that he had proposed that the political parties should first evolve a concensus before launching these so called cawareness campaigns which would led to nio where.
He recalled the Akali Dal had realised the gravity of situation years back and it was for this reason that the party took up this issue in 2007 manifesto for the Assembly elections. The party had promised to launch awareness drive against drugs and open de-addiction centres. However, once the party was in power, this poll promise was just ignored. This was repeated by the party during the 2011 elections to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and it was stated that this body would take steps against this menace. The Akali Dal leadership, it seemed, had a selective memory, he added. He questioned the stand taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal that there was sinister design to portray Punjabis as druggists and they must go back to their 2007 manifesto.
He said it had become an issue only now when the same was referred to by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Man Ki Baat programme and the BJP came out with its plan to launch awareness campaign from Amritsar. He said nowhere in the 2007 and 2011 manifestos of the Akali Dal mentioned that the drugs being consumed in Punjab were being smuggled from Pakistan. The sources of the drugs being consumed in the state were known to the government and all the political parties which distribute narcotics in the elections, he said.
