BJP seeks statistics on drug addicts in state

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 16

Donning the hat of the opposition for the first time after the Congress regime took over the reins in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today questioned the working of the state government.

In a memorandum handed over to the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Girish Dayalan, BJP’s district president Ramesh Sharma stated that after taking charge by the Congress government, a steep rise had been seen in the number of suicide cases in the area. Also, the number of sacrilege incidents had increased manifold. The BJP also showed concern on the brutal attacks on Opposition leaders by Congress workers.

Sharma also accused the Congress government of failing to provide any respite to the parents protesting against the fee hike in private schools. Flaying the Congress government, Sharma stated that “black days of power cuts” were back in Punjab. The BJP also questioned the Punjab Chief Minister on the actual number of drug addicts in the state. It stated that when the SAD-BJP was ruling the state, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi claimed that 78 per cent of the youths were addicts. The BJP has now asked the Punjab CM to reveal the actual statistics of drug addicts in the state and how he was going to get them rehabilitated.

The party also slammed the Congress for shifting liquor vends near residential areas to cater to liquor barons in the state. It said that despite strong protests lodged by women in many areas, the state government had failed to take any remedial measures. The Congress regime was also held responsible for repeated power cuts which were causing a lot of harassment to the farmers in the sowing season. The BJP leaders said either the CM should take remedial measures in the issues highlighted or they would take to the streets.