Sirsa worst-hit by drugs, says AAP Haryana chief Sushil Gupta

Anil Kakkar

Sirsa, July 14

Targeting the BJP government in the state, AAP’s Haryana state president Sushil Gupta said the number of deaths due to drug overdose continue to rise. Citing data showing a grim picture of Haryana, he said out of the state’s 22 districts, 16 were severely affected by drugs, with Sirsa being the worst-hit.

Addressing a press conference in Sirsa on Sunday, he said drugs had infiltrated both urban and rural areas, with widespread consumption of synthetic and other kinds of drugs. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and de-addiction centres are understaffed, leading to the unchecked sale of drugs like heroin, charas and opium, allegedly under police protection, he alleged.

Gupta criticised the BJP government for failing to curb the drug menace, provide jobs or offer effective rehabilitation to the youth.

Sharing data, he said in 2021, nearly 95,863 people, including 28,283 women, sought treatment for drug addiction, with numbers doubling in the following years. NCB data shows over 500 deaths from overdose since 2014, primarily among 18 to 30-year-olds in the state, he said.

Gupta accused the BJP government of failing to provide jobs, pushing the youth into depression and drug abuse. He said, “As soon as the AAP government comes to power in the state, we will launch a comprehensive attack on drug trafficking”.