Punjab FM Harpal Cheema slams Opposition stance on drug issue

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday slammed Opposition parties in the state, alleging that their stance on the drug trade smacked of hypocrisy and opportunism.

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He also claimed that the drug trade flourished in the state in 10 years of the SAD-BJP rule from 2007-2017.

Addressing mediapersons, Cheema said, “From 2007 to 2017, Punjab witnessed an alarming rise in drug trafficking. Substances like 'chitta' (synthetic drugs), heroin and smack spread across the state. This dark period in our state's history, marked by the blatant drug trade, is linked to the rule of the Akali-BJP government.”

“Now, when the AAP government is taking strict action against these criminals, the same Opposition leaders, who once promised to eliminate drugs from Punjab, are defending those involved in this nefarious trade,” he added.

Cheema said key Opposition leaders had previously called for action against Majithia but now they were “trying to shield him”.

Taking names of Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Charanjit Singh Channi and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu, he said, “These leaders have no integrity. They flip their positions based on political convenience, while the youth of Punjab continues to suffer due to drugs. These leaders allowed drug trade to flourish when they were in power in Punjab.”