Is Akali Dal Determined to Eradicate Drugs and Gangsters in Punjab?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Ferozepur, Feb 10 (NationPress) Sukhbir Badal, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), declared on Tuesday that the party is dedicated to eliminating the challenges posed by drug trafficking and gangsters in Punjab when it assumes power in 2027.
Commending Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria for spearheading a campaign aimed at achieving a drug-free Punjab, Badal informed the media here, “The Governor has recognized the needs of the populace and is visiting villages and cities to ignite a movement against this issue.”
He remarked that drugs have turned into a plague in the state, jeopardizing the future of an entire generation. Furthermore, he praised the Governor’s commitment to lead this initiative amidst the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s inability to address the crisis.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to the Governor for engaging leaders from all political parties, social groups, and educational bodies to transform this into a collective movement,” Badal stated, accusing both the Congress and AAP of politicizing the drug issue, which prevented any genuine efforts to combat it over the past nine years.
“Capt Amarinder Singh falsely pledged on the holy ‘gutka sahib’ to eradicate this issue within four weeks, while Arvind Kejriwal claimed he would take a few months.” Reiterating that both administrations have failed the citizens, Badal pointed out that the main reason is the collusion between political leaders and drug traffickers. “I have been informed that currently, AAP leaders are receiving monthly payouts from the drug mafia, which allows them to not only protect their members but also hinder their arrests. While peddlers are apprehended, the leading kingpins continue to operate without fear.”
He emphasized that once the Akali Dal secures governance in 2027, it will thoroughly eliminate the issues of drugs and gangsters. “We will investigate the hierarchy of both the drug mafia and gangsters, which are sometimes interconnected. We will dismantle all members of the structure from the ground up,” he concluded.