SNE NETWORK.JALANDHAR/CHANDIGARH.
Making drug abuse a major election issue ahead of next year’s Punjab Assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government at the “Drug-Free Punjab Maha Rally” held in Paragpur, Jalandhar, on Wednesday. At the rally, held after the BJP’s four “Drug-Free Punjab Yatras,” which began on September 18th, covered nearly 4,000 kilometers across 117 assembly constituencies. Shah said the BJP should be given a chance to rid Punjab of drugs.
Punjab will be drug-free by December 31, 2029. He said he had come to assure the mothers, sisters, and youth of Punjab that after the deadline, there would be no one left to supply drugs to children. The BJP’s Yatras covered all 117 assembly constituencies in 13 days. Shah said Punjab is the land of farmers who replenish the nation’s granaries and soldiers who are at the forefront of protecting the nation’s borders. When the country needed food, Punjab’s farmers filled the warehouses, and when the country needed security, Punjab’s soldiers were the first to sacrifice their lives.
Today, Punjab faces the serious challenge of drug addiction. He said that Punjab cannot develop until its youth are free from drugs. Shah accused the Aam Aadmi Party government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of allowing the drug trade to flourish in Punjab instead of curbing it. He said that during the last assembly elections, Arvind Kejriwal had guaranteed to make Punjab drug-free within three months, but the drug trade did not end. Shah alleged that, on the contrary, the drug trade in Punjab increased and the government failed to stop it. He also linked the controversy surrounding Delhi’s liquor policy to Punjab’s drug issue, asking, “How will those who were caught in the liquor scam in Delhi make Punjab drug-free?”
Shah targeted the Bhagwant Mann government, saying, “Bhagwant Mann has further expanded the drug trade,” and alleged that those who themselves have been embroiled in allegations of liquor scams cannot provide a drug-free future for the youth of Punjab. He also said that a person who insults the Guru while intoxicated cannot make Punjab drug-free. Shah stated that the Punjab elections will involve many issues, including farmers, industry, employment, and law and order, but clarified that a drug-free Punjab will be the BJP’s top agenda, and the decisive battle will be fought on this issue.
Regarding Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s mega rally against drugs, BJP MP Harbhajan Singh said, “Absolutely, this is a very important issue, and it is our responsibility to eradicate drug abuse from Punjab. The rally, which began a few days ago, has concluded today. I hope Punjabis become aware of this rally. It is everyone’s responsibility to completely eradicate drug abuse from Punjab.”
At the closing ceremony of the “Drug-Free Punjab Yatra,” BJP leader Sunil Kumar Jakhar, referring to the statements of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said that the Chief Minister had promised to end corruption, improve law and order, and address unemployment and farmers’ issues. But all this is useless unless Punjab is made drug-free and the future of Punjab’s children is secured. Jakhar pointed out that Amit Shah clearly stated that he did not come to seek votes on these other issues.
He said, “If you want to eradicate drug abuse, give the BJP a chance.” Shah said that if they fail to eradicate drug abuse by December 31, 2029, then the BJP will be defeated. If they can do it, they will be guilty in the eyes of the people. Jakhar further said that Naxalism has been eradicated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, so this work will also be done. People have faith in this. The enthusiasm and zeal seen among the people today was worth seeing. When we contest the elections under the leadership of Amit Shah, all these issues will be resolved.###USA###UK###CANADA###BJP###AMIT-SHAH###JALANDHAR###PUNJAB###CHANDIGARH###AUSTRALIA###NEWZEALAND###SINGAPORE###AUSTRIA###CHINA###