Homemade drugs real threat: Captain - Takes jibe at Arun Jaitley for blaming smuggled contraband for menace in state

Saturday, 28/06/2014

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140628/punjab.htm#6

Amritsar : Former Chief Minister and Member of Parliament from Amritsar Captain Amarinder Singh today said the synthetic drugs produced within the country, specifically in Punjab, were a bigger threat than those smuggled from across the border.

The Congress leader was responding to Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley’s statement in Delhi yesterday wherein he had sought to put the entire blame for the menace on drugs smuggled from across the border.

Amarinder, while interacting with mediapersons, said Punjab faced a more serious challenge of homemade drugs produced with the “patronage of Akali leaders”.

He said drugs were continuously being smuggled from Pakistan, “but a large quantity is seized by our forces at the border. Most of it is sent out since Punjab happens to be a transit point”. The actual and more serious problem in Punjab is the cheap and easy availability of synthetic drugs.

The former Chief Minister asked Jaitley to get the matter investigated and initiate further action.

He said from Jaitley’s observations it appeared he was unaware of the menace of synthetic drugs produced locally and “with due patronage of the ruling Akalis” who were his party’s alliance partners in the state as well as at the Centre.

Amarinder said he was emphasising the seriousness of the local production of drugs since it was important for Jaitley and the Government of India to have correct feedback and “not rely entirely on the one provided by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal”.

“Badal has two reasons to put all the blame on the drugs smuggled from across the border — one, he escapes responsibility, and two he is trying to divert the attention from the drugs produced within his state and with due patronage of his party leaders, including some ministers,” he claimed.

The Congress MP said it was high time for Jaitley to understand the actual reasons behind the scourge. “Drugs smuggled from across the border may be one of the reasons for addiction, but this is not the only reason,” he said. “Rather I am sure your four-month association with Amritsar must have enlightened you adequately about the real reasons and causes behind drug addiction in Punjab,” he added, while referring to Jaitley.

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Centre must get the true picture

Drugs smuggled from across the border may be one of the reasons for addiction, but this is not the only reason... It is important for Jaitley and the Government of India to have correct feedback and not rely entirely on the one provided by CM Parkash Singh Badal