Going against the norms, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday staged a dharna against the drug menace in the State near the International Border and pitched for greater awareness and vigilance along the border with Pakistan.
Modified as “awareness” dharnas at three places near the Indo-Pak border, Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal along with other senior leaders addressed the gathering.
Initially, the sit-ins were announced by the party to “put pressure on the Border Security Force to stop the entry of drugs into the State from Pakistan”. However, in a climbdown from its earlier stance, SAD later said the proposed sit-in was “to create awareness about drugs rather than pressurise the BSF”. The party blamed “some inimical forces” for tarnishing the image of Punjabis by branding them as “drug peddlers.”
Besides seeking sealing of the International Border, the SAD demanded that the Centre slap a ban on “cultivating narcotics” in States like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to eliminate drug abuse.
The SAD’s ally, the BJP, is also scheduled to launch its own campaign against the drug menace. BJP chief Amit Shah would start his party's campaign on the issue from Amritsar on January 22.
Meanwhile, Opposition Congress staged a separate sit-in at the district headquarters demanding dismissal of the Punjab Government for allegedly “inciting people against the security forces”.