The Congress has asked the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to instruct its workers to hold dharnas and protests against the Punjab Police for its alleged inability to check circulation of drugs in the state.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Amritsar (rural) District Congress Committee (DCC) chief Gurjeet Singh Aujla questioned the intentions of the Akalis to stage dharnas at Attari and two other places along the border with Pakistan.
"The Akalis may have now decided not to target the Border Security Force (BSF) during these protests. But their intentions still remain the same as they have not changed the venue of these protests. Clearly, they want to paint the BSF a villain and hold the force responsible for the drug trade," he said while ridiculing deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for projecting the dharnas as a step aimed at creating awareness about the drug menace.
Aujla alleged that the real villains in the drug racket were some of the ruling party politicians and the black sheep in the state police force. There was a close nexus between the two which Sukhbir Badal must disclose, he added.
"But the Akalis are afraid of taking on the Punjab Police, lest its officers expose the SAD leaders who are involved in the drug trade. The synthetic drug trade flourishes within the state and with political patronage," he added while pointing out that during the period of militancy the same Akali leaders who are in power now, could be seen taking part in protests against the state police for one reason or the other.
{{/usCountry}}"But the Akalis are afraid of taking on the Punjab Police, lest its officers expose the SAD leaders who are involved in the drug trade. The synthetic drug trade flourishes within the state and with political patronage," he added while pointing out that during the period of militancy the same Akali leaders who are in power now, could be seen taking part in protests against the state police for one reason or the other.
{{/usCountry}}Another local Congress leader Mandeep Singh Manna claimed that it was due to the pressure from the central government that the SAD decided not to target the BSF.
Manna also ridiculed chief minister Parkash Singh Badal for holding other states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh responsible for the inflow of opium and poppy husk into Punjab. The CM should be brave enough to admit the lapses on the part of the Punjab Police, he added.