The Punjab Congress on Monday staged parallel dharnas with that of SAD’s at district headquarters demanding dismissal of the Akali Dal-BJP Government on the issue of involvement of its Ministers in the multi-crore drug racket proliferating in the State. However, the dharnas failed to evoke much response.
As a part of dharnas, the district units submitted memorandums to the respective Deputy Commissioners seeking Government’s dismissal and also demanding CBI inquiry into the drug smuggling and the involvement of Akali Ministers. The party directly blamed the Akali Dal for drug menace which had spread like a viral after coming into power of this Government.
State party chief Partap Singh Bajwa pointed out that it was the Congress which had started the campaign against drugs when it came out with a chain dharnas in Chandigarh.
Slamming the BJP for shedding crocodile tears, he said that the saffron party was only eyeing the vote bank. “In case the BJP had been sincere on the drug issue, it would have come out of the government by now. This is not a political issue but concerned the very future of the state,” he said. Bajwa made it clear that the Congress would continue to take it up as the main issue.
Coming down heavily on state Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on his “double speak” on drug menace, he said on one hand, he blamed the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for focusing on this vital issue, while on the other hand, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for showing his deep concern over the situation in the State.
“The growing criticism of Parkash Singh Badal Government especially the involvement of some of its Ministers surfaced in this multi-crore racket has rattled Sukhbir Badal. He should tell the people as to why Sarwan Singh Phillaur had to resign from the Cabinet. He must tell the people as to why the Enforcement Directorate is investigating his brother-in-law and the Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and the Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander. He must explain as to why the BJP chief Amit Shah has decided to launch anti-drug campaign in the state. Gandhi only pointed to the gravity of the situation and what is happening in the State is a matter of record,” he added.