Drug menace: Cong dares PM to withdraw support to Akalis
Tuesday, 16/12/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/drug-menace-cong-dares-pm-to-withdraw-support-to-akalis/18642.html
New Delhi : A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern on the prevalence of drug abuse in India and the link between drug money and terror, the Congress today asked the BJP to withdraw their MLAs from the Akali Dal government in Punjab.
Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab Shakeel Ahmed said: “We were surprised at the PM’s concern considering his party is in alliance with the ruling Akali Dal in Punjab, which is facing a huge problem of drug abuse. Not just that, Akali Dal ministers have been named by a drug racket kingpin as among those involved in the trade. Why does the PM support the Akali Dal in Punjab? Why can’t he pull his MLAs out of the government if he is so worried about drug addiction?”
The Congress sought to corner the BJP in the state where it has launched a “Save Punjab” campaign. Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi had launched this campaign recently in the state. In fact, drugs are a major issue the Congress is using against the incumbent government in the state.
“The PM is preaching without practising. Does he not know that Bhola, a former cop, has said three ministers in the state government are involved in the drug ring? Then why is the BJP still with the Akalis in Punjab? Besides, may we ask the PM what measures the Centre is adopting to prevent the smuggling of drugs into Punjab from the international border,” Ahmed asked.
On former Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh’s statement that Bhola’s allegation cannot be taken on the face value, Ahmed said: “Capt Amarinder Singh held this view many months back. After that he has not made any statement to this effect. The Congress’ official view is that drug racket in Punjab has flourished under the patronage of the ruling Akali-BJP alliance.”
Amarinder Singh, in an interview to the Tribune, had earlier maintained that no Akali minister, including Bikram Majithia, brother-in-law of Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, could be accused merely on the confession of Bhola, himself the kingpin of the racket. He had also opposed the Congress line to order a CBI inquiry into the Punjab drug racket.
