Worries about Punjab’s drug problem echo in RS

New Delhi, August 3

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Punjab’s growing drug problem found its way to Rajya Sabha, where some Parliamentarians voiced their concern at the number of cases of drug abuse in the state.

Opposition Congress demanded investigations into allegations that ministers of ruling SAD-BJP were also involved in drug trafficking.

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KTS Tulsi, a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, raised the issue during Question Hour, when he said the number of cases involving drugs was disproportionately high — 13 of 15 districts that had reported the problem were in Punjab, he claimed.

Nearly 40 cases were being reported from the state every day, which was nearly half of the reported cases in the entire country, Tulsi said as he asked the central government what steps it had taken to check the problem.

Tulsi also said that a minister in the state government has been accused of having a hand in smuggling drugs. He also accused the central government of lack of will to act and, therefore, complicity in drug smuggling.  

Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa claimed former wrestler Jagdish Singh Bhola, who was arrested on drug trafficking charges, had accused three ministers of SAD patriarch Prakash Singh Badal’s state government of being involved in trafficking drugs, even naming one "kingpin" and demanded an inquiry the by CBI.

The central government countered by saying it was taking measures to eradication the problem, although it said that criminal charges could be pressed on “just offering names”. — PTI