AAP protests against Cong, SAD for ‘promoting’ drugs

Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, November 24

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Punjab, on Tuesday staged a protest against the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for allegedly promoting and backing drug smugglers in the state.

AAP leaders accused the Capt Amarinder Singh-led state government of promoting and protecting drug smugglers in the state, saying that the government was turning a blind eye to the “free run” by drug peddlers.

They burnt effigies of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Sukhbir Singh Badal during a ‘dharna’ staged by party workers at Bharat Nagar Chowk here today to mark their protest.

AAP MLA from Jagraon Sarabjit Kaur Manuke and others raised questions over alleged links of a close aide of Captain Amarinder with Gurdeep Singh Rano, who was allegedly arrested for smuggling of drugs.

Manuke alleged: “Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Capt Amarinder Singh’s advisers were allowing drug smugglers to have a free run under cover. The Chief Minister, who also holds home portfolio, should own responsibility of unhindered activities of the drug smugglers and crack a whip on them, sooner than later.”

“Captain Amarinder, who had promised to eradicate the drug menace from the state, was now running away from the promise he had made to people simply to grab power.”

AAP state youth wing co-president Anmol Gagan Mann said Captain should wake up now and own up responsibility for the rampant drug trade in the state running under political patronage. She alleged that the unemployed and poverty stricken youth of Punjab were falling prey to drugs, while the Chief Minister was busy in kingly ceremonies.

She condemned the government for providing security to “drug smuggler” Rano during the Covid-induced lockdown, while security of many politicians and others was withdrawn from several others facing threat to their lives.

Garhshankar MLA Jai Krishan Singh Rouri alleged that earlier the SAD government and now, the Captain government had ruined the lives of the youth of the state, adding that due to the menace of drugs, incidents of crime in Punjab had touched a new high while the government was turning a blind eye to the rising crime.