Punjab BJP on Saturday sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in checking the drug menace in the State and also suggested measures like increasing the staff strength of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh to check the flow of drugs.
In a letter to the Home Minister on Saturday, Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma said the inflow of the drugs in Punjab is creating havoc with the lives of the people, particularly the youth. Though, the problem of the drugs is prevalent in many parts of the country but Punjab is certainly one of the worst affected State,” he said.
Claiming that the State Government is trying its best to eradicate the drugs from Punjab, he, however, said a more coordinated effort between Central & State agencies are need of the hour.
“At the centre level, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the premier national agency, dealing with the drug menace, is making earnest efforts to eradicate the drug menace and to break the drug supply chains. However, in its effort, NCB is currently facing some constraints, which if addressed to, will surely help the agency in effectively bringing an end to the drug abuse in Punjab,” Sharma said. He added that presently, the NCB, Chandigarh Unit, which deals with the states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, is facing staff crunch.
“It has come to my knowledge that as per the requisite strength of about 20 officers, there are presently four officers posted in the NCB, Chandigarh unit. Not only at the Punjab level, the Bureau is marred by the staff scarcity even at the national level with top three posts lying vacant since March this year,” the Punjab BJP chief pointed out.
Sharma said that in wake of the fact that proper follow up and investigations by NCB sleuths consumes lot of time, there is immediate need to strengthen the Bureau’s Chandigarh Unit. “As a part of the revamp of the NCB, it would be of extreme help, if the strength of the Bureau’s Chandigarh Unit, is increased from 20 to 30 officers and all the posts be filled,” he added.
The BJP leader said that by increasing the staff strength of the NCB, Chandigarh Unit, the officers would be able to handle the crucial matter in a much better and effective manner.
In his address at Anandpur Sahib recently, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had acknowledged the existence of drug menace in Punjab and had stated that the Centre was committed to make the State drugs free. This had caused ripples in the Akali Dal circles who continue to downplay the issue.