Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi on Thursday met Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh called upon the Punjab government to have scientific solutions to the drug problem instead of tightening noose against the addicts.
He also demanded to relax control over afeem and bhukki. Dr Gandhi, who led a delegation to meet Capt Amarinder on the issue of drug menace and its planned tackling in the state, said that drugs cannot be banned or eliminated overnight. Moreover, insensitive dealing of the issue would lead to serious aftermaths, he said.
Elected on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket but since estranged from it, he said that the recent crackdown by the state police on drug smugglers not only created panic among addicts but multiplied the black-marketing of drugs.
He explained that there is a need to make a distinction between natural and the “lesser harmful natural intoxicants including opium, poppy husk and marijuana”.
“A liberal and scientific approach should be adopted towards opium and poppy husk addicts and their drug demands must be fulfilled through the health care system,” he said.