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Interview

Badal not serious to resolve drug problem in Punjab: Navjot Kaur Sidhu

July 03, 2016 01:38 PM

Punjab News Express
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is taking drug problem in the state very lightly and not serious to act against political leaders involved in drug trade. This was alleged by BJP MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu in a recorded conversation with media on the sidelines of BJP state executive at Jalandhar concluded on Saturday.

Navjot Kaur Sidhu said that she had brought to the notice of Badal instances of drug peddling by political leaders and even sought his cooperation in rehabilitation of about 1800 young children de-addicted with her efforts in her constituency. She said she requested Badal to give them employment or help in self-employment to enable them to return to main stream but he cold shouldered her. Unfortunately Badal takes all drug problem and rehabilitation of addicts very casually.

Navjot Kaur Sidhu ridiculed the allegations by Sukhbir Badal that drugs were coming from Pakistan and Border Security Force(BSF) is failing to control the drug smuggling. She said that drugs were being sold in Punjab openly and Police has failed to act against the real culprits. She said that many other states share border with Pakistan then why drugs are not an issue there. BSF officers are not getting rich from smuggling but it is Punjab Police officers who are lining their pockets, she alleged and asked can Police support drug trade without political patronage ?

She said that Police is under home minsiter (Sukhbir Singh Badal) and he shall order the police to act tough against drug peddlers. She said that drugs were being supplied in red beacon vehicles of government. She said drug problem would not be solved by merely arresting small time consumers and addicts. She said that denying that there is any drug addiction is not the solution of the problem.She said that it state has the will to stop the drug smuggling, it will be stopped immediately.She asked if any big drug smuggler arrested or punished by Punjab Police ?

She said that drugs are supplied in all jails in Punjab. She wanted to know from state government who is involved in it. She said that who will check how drugs entring jails. Let state government check the earnings of jail and police officers?

Replying to statement of Sukhbir Badal that drug problem is also existing in other states and Punjab is being defamed, Sidhu said that drugs are problem in every state but it is volume of drug trade in Punjab that is being questioned.

Sidhu said that she had requested the Chief Minister to review the wealth of his ministers and MLAs and see how it is multiplying. She said that MLA's and ministers were getting fixed salary and how come their wealth swelled into crores.

She also stated that Tobacco factories were running in Maur Mandi in Bathinda home district of Chief Minister while Tobacco's production and sale is totally banned here. She asked the Chief Minister who is responsible for it. It is not my duty to stop it, she said.

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