City girl writes to Akal Takht Jathedar, seeks action against CM

JALANDHAR: Taking cognisance of recent deaths of drug addicts in the state allegedly due to drug overdose, a 16- year-old girl, Nobel, a Class XI student and resident of the TV Tower road, here, wrote a complaint to Jathedar of Shri Akal Takht Sahib, demanding strict action as per Panthic Maryada against Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who during his election rally in Bathinda, swore to wipe out the drug menace in the state within four weeks by holding ‘Gutka Sahib’ in his hands.

Nobel, Class XI student

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, June 28

Taking cognisance of recent deaths of drug addicts in the state allegedly due to drug overdose, a 16- year-old girl, Nobel, a Class XI student and resident of the TV Tower road, here, wrote a complaint to Jathedar of Shri Akal Takht Sahib, demanding strict action as per Panthic Maryada against Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who during his election rally in Bathinda, swore to wipe out the drug menace in the state within four weeks by holding ‘Gutka Sahib’ in his hands.

Talking to The Tribune, Nobel, who call herself a social activist and wants to bring a change in society, said: “In the past one week, at least seven persons have died in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts due to drugs. Video messages going viral on the social media show drug addicts lying unconscious on streets in various parts of the district, while their family crying next to their bodies is heart-wrenching.”

Moreover, be it youth, adults or senior citizens, everyone was well aware about the drug problem in the state. Parties contesting for the Assembly elections in 2017 had the issue of drug menace on the top of their manifestos, while after 15 months of coming into power what Captain Amarinder had done even though he swore to eradicate the peril within four weeks, she said.

Further, the act of holding Gutka Sahib in hands for political purpose and votes was not worth tolerating, she added.

She said she feels disappointed and shocked at the same time that not a single Sikh in the state and even those in power noticed this act of the Chief Minister and demanded action, while the act has allegedly disregarded the Sikh religion and holy text written by our Gurus.

Besides writing a complaint to the Jathedar, Nobel has earlier taken stand for many wrongdoings in society.

She said in 2016, she sat for 80 days on a strike at the DC Office, seeking action against private schools charging extra fees. Daughter of a publisher, Raju Sony, she says: “You cannot sit at home and hope for a change, if you want things to improve and the government to work for people, take a stand and speak against injustice.”