Khaira demands white paper on drug menace in Punjab
Blames Capt Amarinder Singh for shielding big fish of drug mafia

Chandigarh, March 12, 2019
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

Sukhpal Singh Khaira President of Punjab Ekta Party(PEP) today told Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to issue a white paper on drug menace in Punjab and blamed the Chief Minister for making false statements on curbing the activities of drug mafia in state.

Khaira in a statement said that drugs were being sold openly in the state and online purchase of drugs by Simarjeet Singh Bains President of Lok Insaaf Party in Ludhiana is stark evidence of flourishing drug trade, in the state. He said that deaths of youth with over dose were reported from Amritsar recently and many similar incidents had gone unreported. He accused Capt Amarinder Singh for shielding the big fish of drug mafia. 

Khaira said that Capt Amarinder Singh had made tall promises before 2017 assembly election to eradicate drugs within four weeks. He and his ministerial colleagues had several times named Bikram Singh Majithia's involvement in synthetic drug trade and made public announcements to put him behind bars within 24 hours of forming government.

Khaira said that Capt Amarinder Singh was answerable to people of Punjab because he was given the verdict to eradicate drug mafia. He said that let Capt Amarinder Singh tell the people how many big drug smugglers were arrested by his government. He said that many political leaders infamous for drug business were enjoying patronage of Chief Minister. He said that on March 8, Rahul Gandhi who addressed a rally at Moga admitted that big drug smugglers were yet to be nabbed. Even Capt Amarinder Singh admitted that drugs were being sold in state despite arrest of large number of drug peddlers. He said that only drug users were being arrested to make false claims on the arrest of drug peddlers. 

PEP president said that Chief Minister had played to the gallery by setting up Special Task Force(STF) on drugs. He asked Chief Minister to explain to people the achievements of STF. He said that Harpreet Singh ADGP was appointed head of the STF but before he could catch the big fish, his powers were curtailed and brought under control of former DGP Suresh Arora. He said that Arora was DGP during the SAD-BJP government and it was foolish to expect that he would unmask the drug mafia which existed and grew during his tenure in the previous government. He added that STF was now a non-functional wing of Punjab Police.

Khaira also stated that present DGP Dinkar Gupta is a non-effective police officer who is not seen in the field since the day he has been appointed DGP. He said that he has not spoken a word on activities of drug mafia even after Ludhiana episode. He said that DGP S Chatopadhya in his report submitted to High Court had also raised accusing finger on Gupta for his likely involvement in some shady deals.

Khaira said keeping in view the blatant availability of Chitta/drugs in every nook and corner of the state, Capt. Amrinder Singh must issue a white paper on drugs and admit his colossal failure to curb them.