Cheema hits back at BJP's anti-drug yatra; BJP questions Mann govt's record
Chandigarh/Amritsar: A day before the Punjab BJP begins its ‘ Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra ’, cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema hit out at the BJP, asking the party to answer three questions on drug supply, border security and Punjab’s water rights before taking out its march. The BJP, in turn, targeted the Bhagwant Mann govt’s claim that its ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign had entered its “final phase”, saying drugs continued to flow and the govt’s credibility was at stake.
Cheema asked the BJP to explain why drug consignments originating in Gujarat and Rajasthan were not being intercepted, why Punjab was being blamed when the 55-km belt along the international border falls under the BSF’s jurisdiction, and what its position was on diversion of Punjab’s water to Haryana and Rajasthan.
He said the BJP should first act against drug networks in BJP-ruled states and strengthen border security before lecturing Punjab. Cheema said the AAP govt had deployed anti-drone systems and taken action against traffickers, while also expanding treatment for people battling addiction.
“The period between 2007 and 2017, when the SAD-BJP govt was in power in Punjab, witnessed a major expansion of the drug problem in the state,” Cheema said, alleging that “chitta” became widely associated with the crisis during that period and accusing the previous govt of allowing drug trafficking to flourish.
On the border, Cheema said the Centre had direct responsibility for the 55-km belt along the Pakistan border and questioned the BJP’s criticism of Punjab over drugs. He said Punjab Police had been strengthened to counter smuggling, including through drones.
He also alleged that major drug consignments recovered in the country had often been traced to Gujarat and Rajasthan and challenged the BJP to act against networks operating there.
The BJP, however, said the Mann govt’s repeated claims of progress on drugs did not match the situation on the ground.
Punjab BJP spokesperson Sarchand Singh said the “final phase” claim reflected the same confidence with which the AAP had once promised a drug-free Punjab in three months. He asked who the major suppliers and financiers were, how much of the distribution network had actually been dismantled and whether demand had declined.
He also questioned govt figures citing nearly 79,000 arrests against jail capacity of around 26,000. The BJP spokesperson said its ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’ would be held from Sept 18 to 30 across all 117 assembly constituencies.
ON ‘ZOMBIE DRUG’
Responding to a question on drugs such as xylazine or “tranq”, Cheema said most pharmaceutical factories were located in Uttarakhand, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and that pharmaceutical units in Punjab were being monitored rigorously.
Cheema asked the BJP to explain why drug consignments originating in Gujarat and Rajasthan were not being intercepted, why Punjab was being blamed when the 55-km belt along the international border falls under the BSF’s jurisdiction, and what its position was on diversion of Punjab’s water to Haryana and Rajasthan.
He said the BJP should first act against drug networks in BJP-ruled states and strengthen border security before lecturing Punjab. Cheema said the AAP govt had deployed anti-drone systems and taken action against traffickers, while also expanding treatment for people battling addiction.
“The period between 2007 and 2017, when the SAD-BJP govt was in power in Punjab, witnessed a major expansion of the drug problem in the state,” Cheema said, alleging that “chitta” became widely associated with the crisis during that period and accusing the previous govt of allowing drug trafficking to flourish.
On the border, Cheema said the Centre had direct responsibility for the 55-km belt along the Pakistan border and questioned the BJP’s criticism of Punjab over drugs. He said Punjab Police had been strengthened to counter smuggling, including through drones.
He also alleged that major drug consignments recovered in the country had often been traced to Gujarat and Rajasthan and challenged the BJP to act against networks operating there.
The BJP, however, said the Mann govt’s repeated claims of progress on drugs did not match the situation on the ground.
Punjab BJP spokesperson Sarchand Singh said the “final phase” claim reflected the same confidence with which the AAP had once promised a drug-free Punjab in three months. He asked who the major suppliers and financiers were, how much of the distribution network had actually been dismantled and whether demand had declined.
He also questioned govt figures citing nearly 79,000 arrests against jail capacity of around 26,000. The BJP spokesperson said its ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’ would be held from Sept 18 to 30 across all 117 assembly constituencies.
ON ‘ZOMBIE DRUG’
Responding to a question on drugs such as xylazine or “tranq”, Cheema said most pharmaceutical factories were located in Uttarakhand, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and that pharmaceutical units in Punjab were being monitored rigorously.
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