Akalis luring people with drugs for dharnas: Jakhar
Monday, 05/01/2015
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/akalis-luring-people-with-drugs-for-dharnas-jakhar/26284.html
Amritsar : Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Sunil Jakhar today said the Akali Dal should stop blaming Pakistan and neighbouring Rajasthan for the supply of drugs as Punjab was not the only state sharing border with the two.
“Many other states share border with Pakistan while Haryana does so with Rajasthan. Why is no other state as infamous as Punjab for drugs?” said Jakhar while addressing the media here. He alleged the state government was trying to divert attention from the drug issue.
Criticising the SAD for “misusing” the government machinery for dharnas, he quipped, “The Akalis are luring people with drugs to make them join the protest.” He alleged a large quantity of poppy husk, alcohol and other drugs could be seized from vehicles transporting people to dharna sites if an independent agency did the checking.
Questioning Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s motive behind “creating awareness”, he said, “The people are already aware, but the rulers are not. There is need for the rulers to get aware.”
Jakhar claimed the Chief Minister and his deputy Sukhbir Badal differed on the objective behind the dharnas. “Even if drugs flow into Punjab from Pakistan, who has stopped the Punjab Police from checking its transit? The police and the government appear non-serious on curbing the menace,” he said.
While the SAD has announced to hold a protest rally at Attari Dana Mandi here tomorrow, the local Congress unit has announced a counter-dharna at India Gate. Jakhar was here to take stock of the arrangements for the sit-in. The venue of the Congress protest is on way to Attari. In case the party workers go in for a road blockade, it would pose trouble for the local administration.
The Akalis, including Sukhbir who is expected to attend the dharna, would have to cross India Gate to reach their rally site at Attari, which may trigger tension.
