The Punjab government is in action mode against drugs. In this connection, bulldozer action will be taken on the property of a drug smuggler in Barnala today. At the same time, Health Minister Balbir Singh will visit Rupnagar (Ropar) today. As a member of the high-power committee constituted to monitor the government’s de-addiction campaign, he will conduct a surprise inspection of the Civil Hospital and take stock of the health facilities of the district.
However, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has blamed the opposition parties for the questions being raised on the action being taken by the Punjab government against drugs. He claimed that special provision will be made in the upcoming budget to deal with this epidemic.
‘Chitta’ came during the time of Akali-BJP government
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema says that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP alliance and the Congress government are responsible for the drug epidemic in Punjab. Before 2007, Punjab had never heard of synthetic drugs like heroin or ‘chitta’. These drugs entered Punjab during the Akali-BJP rule and ruined our youth.
Cheema alleged that instead of providing jobs and opportunities, these parties conspired to push the young generation of Punjab into drug addiction. Captain Amarinder Singh had taken a false oath in 2017 and promised to end drug abuse in four weeks, but his government strengthened its ties with the smugglers.
1188 drug smugglers arrested in 12 days
Under the anti-drug campaign going on in Punjab for the last 12 days, 875 FIRs have been registered and 1,188 drug smugglers have been arrested. During this period, drug money worth Rs 35 lakh was seized, along with 68 kg heroin, 873 kg bhukki, 42 kg opium, 3.5 kg hashish and 6,74,370 intoxicant pills have been recovered.
