Throwing its hat in the ring over the issue of drug menace in Punjab, the Congress party’s youth wing has decided to launch a “Save Punjab” mass movement campaign.
Being practically the first one to raise its concern over the rampant drug menace afflicting the State’s youth, the Congress’ issue against the ruling coalition Government has apparently been hijacked by both the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
On one hand, where the BJP is all set to launch its anti-drug drive from Amritsar on January 22, the SAD, after organising dharnas at international border, has decided to launch lok lehar against the drug issue. Joining in, the All India Youth Congress will start an awareness drive among the people of the State against drugs, besides providing counseling.
“IYC will start awareness drive among the people of Punjab against drugs, even counsel them and if needed will help them in admission to drug de-addiction centers,” announced the IYC national president and Gidderbaha MlA Raja Amarinder Singh Warring, who was on his maiden visit to his home constituency Sri Muktsar Sahib after assuming the charge of IYC chief.
He said, “Save Punjab will be taken to every corner of the State so that the people of Punjab are saved from the drug menace.”
Attacking the SAD-BJP Government in Punjab on the issue of drugs, Warring said that this Government has failed drastically to curb the menace of drugs in their eight-year rule and now they are blaming the central forces.
“This is mere eyewash and drama by this Government. They are not sincere towards the betterment of people of Punjab,” said Warring, adding that SAD-BJP alliance would break soon as already both the parties have started the blame game against each other on the issue of drug menace in Punjab.
Also cautioning the BJP led Central Government on the amendment of land Acquisition Bill in the Parliament, Warring said that the Youth Congress will launch satyagrah from January 12 to 30 across the country “to make people aware of the anti-people and anti-farmer policies of the Modi Government”.
“When the Bill was passed in the Parliament and the BJP was part of it, now why they are going for the amendmentsIJ Youth Congress will gherao the Parliament if they go ahead with this amendment,” declared Warring.
He added tat during this satyagrah, Youth Congress activists from all over the country will also raise the issues of farmers such as diesel prices, non availability of fertilisers etc.
IYC chief also criticised the SAD-BJP Government for not holding student elections in the colleges and universities of the state for so long. “These elections give the politics new faces, new talent but due to vested interests of some politicians these elections are not being done. We will take this matter with NSUI strongly and ask them to make the students elections happen in Punjab very soon,” he said.