Don’t play politics over drug issue: BJP
Tuesday, 06/01/2015
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/don-t-play-politics-over-drug-issue-bjp/26701.html
New Delhi : The BJP today advised the SAD to shun politicising the issue of drug abuse. Top BJP functionaries described the SAD campaign as “a survival strategy."
BJP president Amit Shah will kickstart a tour of non-BJP states on January 22. His first stop is Amritsar. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was defeated from the Amritsar constituency, leading to some bitterness in the SAD, BJP ties. Hence, the choice of the venue is significant.
On Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal’s observations that it was the Centre’s responsibility to curb the drug menace, BJP secretary Shrikant Sharma said: “The drug mafia is ruining the country's youth and strict action should be taken against whosoever is responsible for the menace. There should be greater awareness regarding the menace throughout the country.
“The Prime Minister has already spoken about how strongly he feels about the issue. There should be no politics on this very serious issue which should be tackled with sincerity by all concerned.”
Top BJP functionaries maintain that the SAD is worried over the ongoing developments in the state, including the possibility of a top Congress leader (read Jagmeet Brar, who quit the party on Monday) joining the saffron party.“Brar has defeated Sukhbir Badal in the past and can prove to be an asset for the BJP,” they say. Sources say any official split with the SAD is unlikely till the Delhi elections are held or, perhaps, till Punjab goes to the polls. Sources say the SAD is aware that as in Haryana, the BJP is preparing to go it alone in Punjab. Hence, the Akalis too are doing their ground work. They say the Prime Minister is inclined towards Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. But he is also aware of the general mood in the state.
