Vij blames Punjab for drug supply in border areas

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, May 5

Health Minister Anil Vij has blamed Punjab for increase in supply of drugs to border districts of Haryana.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme here today, Vij said: “Drugs are coming from Punjab to border districts of Sirsa, Jind, Kaithal and some other parts of Haryana. We have started taking steps to open special de-addiction centres in these districts.”

Whether drugs were coming to Haryana from Punjab only, Vij said synthetic drugs were coming from other states also, but opium, poppy husk and other non-synthetic drugs were coming from the Punjab-side to the state.

“We have prepared a mechanism to counter the drugs supply to Haryana,” he said, adding that he had directed the Additional Chief Secretaries of the Health, Home and Excise Departments to intensify efforts against drugs. At the district-level, the minister said that committees had been formed under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioners for regular raids in suspected areas.

Reacting to Vij’s allegations, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, said that the Haryana Health Minister should not blame Punjab as Rajasthan smugglers were using Haryana also to supply poppy husk to other parts of the country.

“Vij should keep in his mind that Punjab does not cultivate drugs, but it is merely a transit point. It is illogical to blame Punjab for drugs,” he said.

Chandumajra said: “Instead of blaming Punjab, which has no role in drugs, all must put in a joint mechanism to prevent the supply of drugs.”

No differences with CM

The Health Minister denied having any differences with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, but said that many times, the CM changed officers of his department even without his consent which affected working of the department.