Accusing the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership of running liquor mafia, member of Parliament from Sangrur Vijay Inder Singla has termed the SAD leaders real 'suppliers' of liquor and other drugs across the state.
Singla also questioned the tall claims of the SAD-BJP government to control drug menace across the state and claimed that SAD political bigwigs controlled the liquor trade forcing people to make excess use of liquor by rejecting no-liquor resolutions of village panchayats.
"SAD-run mafia is now conniving with government officials to thwart the efforts of panchayats, who want to make their villages liquor free," Singla said.
"The government is only concerned about collecting revenue at any cost by ignoring the interest of the people of state," he added.
In Sangrur district, 41 out of 43 applications seeking shutdown or shifting of liquor vends from villages had been recently rejected by the excise and taxation department on one reason or the other. In Barnala, out of total 14 applications, 12 were rejected.
Singla alleged that officials of the excise and taxation department were working under the influence of SAD leaders. "The Congress would launch a protest against the excise department to insist them to mend their way of working in future and would ensure that no resolution is rejected at the behest of Akali leaders," Singla said.
{{/usCountry}}Singla alleged that officials of the excise and taxation department were working under the influence of SAD leaders. "The Congress would launch a protest against the excise department to insist them to mend their way of working in future and would ensure that no resolution is rejected at the behest of Akali leaders," Singla said.
{{/usCountry}}The Congress MP said they would start a people's movement against corrupt officials and politicians, who were supporting the liquor and drug trade.
Terming deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal's claims of launching a war against drugs as 'null and void', Singla said if Sukhbir was serious about the problem of drug addiction in the state, the government might have take serious note of revelation made by former director general of police (jails) Shashi Kant regarding involvement of officials and politicians in drug smuggling.
"The government should act immediately and release the names of officers and politicians identified by Kant, besides bringing them to book, in order to restore the faith of people in good governance," he said.