Define a poor addict, Kalia asks CM

Jalandhar, July 12

Manoranjan Kalia, former Punjab minister has sought the definition of “poor addict” in recently-declared sops for addicts by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Kalia appealed to the Chief Minister to chalk out a clear policy to tackle the menace of drugs.

Kalia said the Chief Minister had not defined “poor addict” while announcing free treatment to “poor addicts” at all state-run drug de-addiction centres and free travel with one attendant in government buses to such centres, on the lines of facilities provided to cancer patients.

He questioned, “Will blue-card holder or yellow-card holder addicts be defined as poor addicts like in the case of other government schemes, ongoing definition of “poor” is applicable?”

“Capt Amarinder has also issued instructions to the Home Department, banning the entry of policemen into de-addiction centres, harassing addicts or their kin. If so, how the police will enquire from where the addicts have received the drugs. And how the police break the supply chain,” he said.

Taking on the CM for calling upon private institutions to crack down on foreign students, especially of African origin, who had been indulging in drug activities,” he said “It is the duty of the police to crack down on those indulging in drugs. — TNS