Patiala MP demands poppy husk cultivation made legal

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 19

Suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Patiala Dr Dharamvira Gandhi on Saturday reiterated his demand for legalising poppy husk cultivation in the state. He said the government should open its poppy husk vends in the state.

Gandhi was in the city to attend a rally organised by the Progressive Farmer Welfare Society at the grain market here on Saturday. While addressing a gathering of farmers, he said on the pattern of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bengal and other states, the ban on poppy husk cultivation should be removed so that the state could progress.

Talking about traditional drugs, he said today developed countries like the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Brazil had removed the ban on the cultivation of marijuana and these countries had increased their income with this.

The MP added that the state government should also allow the plantation of marijuana and poppy husk in kitchen gardens on a trial basis. He said there was a need to make a distinction between natural and lesser harmful natural intoxicants, including opium, poppy husk and marijuana. Gandhi was of the view that it would also put an end to inter-state smuggling of drugs.

The Patiala MP said he had met the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary on the issue, but no one even listened to his demand. He also accused the state government of promoting drugs.

“For the cultivation of starting khaskhas, the state government can take a decision on its own as there is no need to take any approval from the Centre. Despite it, the Union Government is not taking any decision in this regard,” the MP said.

Members of various farmer unions also attended the rally.