Listen to this articleBhagwant Mann “master” of false promises: Jaiveer Shergill
AAP should come out with a ‘white paper’ on steps being taken to eradicate the drug menace from Punjab
Chandigarh, August 16
Labelling Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, as a “master” of false promises, BJP National Spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill has said that CM’s claim in his Independence Day speech in Patiala yesterday to make Punjab a drug-free state by the next Independence Day, clearly exposes his (Mann’s) hollow claims, who before coming to power had promised that “Hamari sarkar aayegi, 3 mahine mein hum nasha khatam kar denge (Our government will come, we will end drug menace within 3 months).
In a statement issued today, while asserting that the curse of drugs in Punjab has acquired alarming proportions, Shergill said that next month, the Mann government will complete one year and a half in office and it is shameful that CM still needs one more year to eradicate the drug menace. “I would like to ask Mann what his government was doing till now”, he questioned. Shergill pointed out that the government’s non-seriousness in tackling the drug menace could well be gauged from the fact that even after so much time in power, CM has nothing but to say, “Blueprint for a crusade against drugs is ready.”
Castigating the CM, Shergill said that the AAP government’s blame game politics and indifferent attitude towards Punjab are fueling the fire of drug addiction and trafficking in Punjab. The Punjab BJP Permanent Invitee member, Shergill, rued that during the dreadful tenure of the Bhagwant Mann-led government, as per media reports, there had been more than 200 drug overdose deaths. “The magnitude of the problem and grimness of the situation is evident from the fact that almost every second day, there are news reports of ‘drug overdose’ death from one or the other district of the state”, he said, while questioning that “Where is the promised Badlaav (Change) by the AAP Govt”.
Shergill further said that with the AAP government failing to take any tangible action; drugs, particularly Chitta are proving to be disastrous for the state. Holding the AAP government squarely responsible for failing to end the drug menace, he asked the Chief Minister to come out with concrete figures about how many ‘big fishes’ involved in the drug trade have been apprehended by the AAP government so far.
“Notably, on December 6, 2022, even the Apex Court had pulled up the Punjab government on failure to tackle drug trafficking. Further, on August 11, 2023, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had also expressed its concern on the rise in drug trafficking and consumption in Punjab”, Shergill said, adding that instead of taking stern action to curb the drug menace, the AAP government’s misgovernance is leading to rise in drug addiction and trafficking.
Shergill also expressed serious concerns over the children falling prey to drugs. He said that on February 1, 2023, even the Punjab Governor had also said that drugs have entered Punjab schools. “The governor had even stated that whenever he goes to villages, people say drugs are available like grocery items at general stores”, disclosed BJP Spokesperson, while stating that it is a matter of grave concern and demanded that government should address it on foremost priority.
Shergill reiterated his demand that AAP should come out with a ‘white paper’ on steps being taken to eradicate the drug menace from Punjab.
