Pargat: Centre, Shah can’t evade responsibility for Punjab drug crisis

Pargat questioned whether the drug problem in Punjab had continued to worsen over the past 13 years without Shah being aware of the situation

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Pargat Singh has questioned the BJP-led government at the Centre and Union Home minister Amit Shah over the “growing drug trade across the country”. He demanded accountability for the illegal sale of pharmaceutical drugs and expressed concern over the impact of the drug menace on the youth.

He said the BJP has been in power at the Centre for the past 13 years, with Shah serving as the Home minister. (HT File)

He said the BJP has been in power at the Centre for the past 13 years, with Shah serving as the Home minister. So neither the central government nor the Home minister can evade responsibility for the spread of the drug trade across Punjab and other states.

Pargat questioned whether the drug problem in Punjab had continued to worsen over the past 13 years without Shah being aware of the situation. If he was fully aware of the ground realities, what concrete steps had the central government taken to curb this menace, he asked.

He said that merely raising slogans about a ‘drug-free India’ and making grand announcements would not eliminate the drug trade. An effective strategy, strict enforcement, and clear accountability between the central and state governments are essential to tackle this crisis.

Pargat said that the drug menace is not merely an issue of law and order in Punjab. Central agencies have a crucial role to play in curbing drug trafficking, cross-border supplies, major drug networks, and the illegal pharmaceutical drug trade.

He said that protecting Punjab’s youth from drugs is not a matter of political rhetoric but a question of safeguarding the future of generations to come. He urged the central government to make public a comprehensive account of the measures taken against the drug trade and the results achieved so far. He also called for time-bound and effective action to dismantle the entire drug supply chain.

The future of Punjab’s younger generation cannot be secured through political accusations and counter-accusations. It requires accountability, strong action, and the dismantling of the entire drug network, he added.