From victim’s house, Kejriwal declares war on Punjab’s drug mafia
Visited Majha region, a hub of drug abuse, and accuses the ruling SAD-BJP of patronising the drug mafia. Also meets Jagir Singh, a 60-year-old farm labourer who lost one of his sons to drug abuse a few years ago.
Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday promised to rid Punjab of drugs “within three or four months” if his party came to power in the state next year.
Kejriwal, who began his 5-day tour to the state on Thursday, visited Majha region, a hub of drug abuse, and accused the ruling SAD-BJP of patronising the drug mafia. He warned no one will be spared.
“The supply and sale of drugs cannot happen without support from the top. We will ensure the harshest punishment to them,” Kejriwal told reporters at the house of Jagir Singh, a 60-year-old farm labourer who lost one of his sons to drug abuse a few years ago. Jagir’s other son is in jail for possessing drugs.
When Kejriwal was told about the easy availability of drugs in Tarn Taran district, he once again lashed out at the government, saying drug dealers have had “nothing to fear” to so far .
“They (drug dealers) get support from the top . This brings the government and some of its ministers into focus as it is their protection the drug smugglers and dealers enjoy,” Kejriwal said. “The names of some of the ministers of Punjab being involved in the drug business have also been doing the rounds.”
Kejriwal was accompanied by party’s Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, AAP Punjab in-charge Sanjay Singh, besides a large number of supporters.
Kejriwal referred to a village he had visited on Friday and narrated how a group of 30-40 youngsters had come together to motivated addicts to quit and join the main stream.
“ From what I learnt, these addicts were cured within 18 days. So when we come to power here, we will make vigorous efforts and tackle the drug problem within 3-4 months ,” he added.
The Delhi CM later moved to Patti town where he met three other families that had lost its men to drugs. He also met families of drug addicts at Sursingh village before reaching Amritsar.
At Pahiwind, kejriwal also raised the 1984 anti-Sikh riots issue and accused the Akalis and the BJP of not doing much to punish the guilty. Kejriwal said one of the first tasks of his government in Delhi was to institute a Special Investigation team (SIT) to probe the role of Congress leaders and others in the riots.
Akali leader plays spoilsport in Harike
Kejriwal faced minor protests during his visit to Patti sub division of Tarn Taran. He also cancelled a scheduled address at Harike’s Pingeri road after a local Akali leader did not allow the public to gather on a plot he owned.
However, relentless AAP supporters who had come from nearby villages did not allow Kejriwal’s convoy to move ahead and forced him to address them.
