Punjab Politics: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday hit out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s ‘Drug Free Punjab Yatra’ rally in Jalandhar, demanding that he stop politically targeting Punjab and answer questions related to drug networks operating in other parts of the country and their investigation.
AAP said that the seizure of 526 kg of methamphetamine and heroin worth more than Rs 3,000 crore during a joint operation of Gujarat ATS (ATS) and Indian Coast Guard on the same day has once again raised serious questions on the drug routes running through Gujarat.
‘Drug free journey’ starts from Gujarat instead of Punjab
In a statement, the Aam Aadmi Party said, “Amit Shah had come to Punjab today to give a speech on drugs. At the same time, 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth more than Rs 3,000 crore was seized in an operation in which Gujarat ATS (ATS) provided intelligence.
We have been saying from the beginning that Gujarat has emerged as a major gateway for drugs in the country. This seizure once again highlights the seriousness of this problem. If Amit Shah is really serious about ‘Drug Free India’, then he should start his ‘Drug Free Journey’ from Gujarat instead of Punjab.”
Cross border supplies have been stopped
The party said that the Bhagwant Mann government has already broken the supply chain network of drug smugglers and now those smugglers are fleeing to neighboring BJP ruled states. It is estimated that about 80 percent of the pills and capsules of medicines found in Punjab come from outside the state, which are linked to Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and other states.
AAP said, “The old Pakistani route is no longer an excuse that Amit Shah keeps using again and again. The Punjab Police has stopped the cross-border supply and is now tackling the interstate drug network. If drugs are coming into Punjab from other states, then Amit Shah should ask the governments of those states what they are doing. Instead of coming to Punjab, they turn the drug issue into a political campaign.”
Why are drugs coming into Punjab in the form of drugs?
The party also said that the BJP should clarify why its anti-drug campaign starts and ends in Punjab when drugs are being seized on a large scale in other parts of the country. AAP said, “If Amit Shah really wants a ‘Drug-free India’, he should answer these questions: Why are huge consignments of drugs being intercepted on the Western Sea Route? Why are drugs coming to Punjab from other states in the form of drugs? What action is being taken against inter-state suppliers? What happened to the central investigation into the Rs 6,000 crore drug case? These are the questions that Amit Shah should answer instead of making speeches against Punjab.” Should be given.”
A collective national fight against drugs
AAP asserted, “Punjab is not asking for speeches. Punjab is demanding a collective national fight against drugs. Stop scapegoating Punjab. Stop shielding your political allies from inconvenient questions. And stop pretending that the drug problem begins at Punjab’s borders and ends there. If Amit Shah is really serious, he should act where the evidence leads – including on the inter-state routes that supply drugs to Gujarat and Punjab.” Networks included.”