<p> Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today hit out at Punjab's SAD-BJP government, accusing it of "ignoring" the serious drug problem and "betraying" the farmers of the state.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"The drug problem is a very serious issue in Punjab and it has always been a serious one. But the Akali government has ignored it," he said here after a meeting with 2,000-2,500 party members including MLAs, MPs and office-bearers.<br /><br />Accusing the SAD-BJP government of not being serious about eliminating the drug problem, he said Congress has to make sure that steps are taken to eradicate it.<br /><br />He said when he had raised the issue of drug problem in Punjab, the SAD-BJP dispensation had made fun of him.<br /><br />Reacting to the accusation by SAD-BJP combine about drug problem claims being an insult to Punjab, Gandhi said nobody can harm the image of the state.<br /><br />"Nobody can insult Punjab. Punjab is the heart of the country. Punjab gives life to the country. There is a place for Punjab in my heart. I want to help Punjab," he said.<br /><br />Hailing Punjab's farmers for their "hard work", he claimed a sense of "betrayal" prevailed among the peasantry as the Akalis have "let them down".<br /><br />The Congress Vice President also demanded that there be no delay in disbursal of payment to wheat-growers.<br /><br />Painting a grim picture of Punjab, he said, "Industry is closing in the state and the issue of cancer also prevails."<br /><br />He said if Congress is voted back to power in Punjab in the 2017 Assembly polls, the state will witness rapid development.<br /><br />"When our party forms government (next year), the drug problem will soon be solved," he said, adding Congress wants to give a "new kind" of government which would be sensitive to the needs of the people.<br /><br />He also claimed that the party faced no threat from Aam Aadmi Party.<br />Asked about allocation of party tickets for the 2017 assembly polls, he said that representation will be given to all sections of the society.<br /><br />"Tickets will be given to all -- young, experienced and women," he said, adding that at least 45 per cent tickets will be allocated to the youth.<br /><br />He said nominees will be finalised six months before the assembly polls.<br />Rejecting the suggestion that Congress decides on election tickets at the high command level, he said that "it is absolutely a myth and incorrect."<br /><br />"Congress does not decide on tickets in Delhi, but a decision is taken at district level," he said.<br /><br />"Punjab has reached a very sad position," he said, adding the state at one time used to show the path to the entire country on all fronts.<br /><br />Referring to his visit to Haryana, he said Haryanvis say that it a matter of pride that they are miles ahead of Punjab.<br /><br />"We need to change this and make Punjab stand up and be successful again," he said.<br />Asked about the party's social media campaign, he attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that BJP spent about Rs 800 crore to tarnish his image on social media.<br />Congress does not spend on social media to tarnish anyone's image, be it Modi or Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.<br /><br />"If Congress utilises its strength in a systematic manner, it will form the next government in Punjab," he said.<br /><br />Asked who will be the chief ministerial candidate of the party, he said that Congress follows a process where the CM is declared after the election.<br /><br />Gandhi refused to comment on the contentious Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue, saying the matter is sub-judice.<br /><br />Gandhi's meeting with party leaders, which was organised by poll strategist Prashant Kishor's organisation Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC), was out of bounds for the media.<br /><br />Congress aims to wrest power in Punjab in 2017 after setbacks in the 2007 and 2012 polls, when it was defeated by the SAD-BJP coalition.<br /></p>
<p> Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today hit out at Punjab's SAD-BJP government, accusing it of "ignoring" the serious drug problem and "betraying" the farmers of the state.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"The drug problem is a very serious issue in Punjab and it has always been a serious one. But the Akali government has ignored it," he said here after a meeting with 2,000-2,500 party members including MLAs, MPs and office-bearers.<br /><br />Accusing the SAD-BJP government of not being serious about eliminating the drug problem, he said Congress has to make sure that steps are taken to eradicate it.<br /><br />He said when he had raised the issue of drug problem in Punjab, the SAD-BJP dispensation had made fun of him.<br /><br />Reacting to the accusation by SAD-BJP combine about drug problem claims being an insult to Punjab, Gandhi said nobody can harm the image of the state.<br /><br />"Nobody can insult Punjab. Punjab is the heart of the country. Punjab gives life to the country. There is a place for Punjab in my heart. I want to help Punjab," he said.<br /><br />Hailing Punjab's farmers for their "hard work", he claimed a sense of "betrayal" prevailed among the peasantry as the Akalis have "let them down".<br /><br />The Congress Vice President also demanded that there be no delay in disbursal of payment to wheat-growers.<br /><br />Painting a grim picture of Punjab, he said, "Industry is closing in the state and the issue of cancer also prevails."<br /><br />He said if Congress is voted back to power in Punjab in the 2017 Assembly polls, the state will witness rapid development.<br /><br />"When our party forms government (next year), the drug problem will soon be solved," he said, adding Congress wants to give a "new kind" of government which would be sensitive to the needs of the people.<br /><br />He also claimed that the party faced no threat from Aam Aadmi Party.<br />Asked about allocation of party tickets for the 2017 assembly polls, he said that representation will be given to all sections of the society.<br /><br />"Tickets will be given to all -- young, experienced and women," he said, adding that at least 45 per cent tickets will be allocated to the youth.<br /><br />He said nominees will be finalised six months before the assembly polls.<br />Rejecting the suggestion that Congress decides on election tickets at the high command level, he said that "it is absolutely a myth and incorrect."<br /><br />"Congress does not decide on tickets in Delhi, but a decision is taken at district level," he said.<br /><br />"Punjab has reached a very sad position," he said, adding the state at one time used to show the path to the entire country on all fronts.<br /><br />Referring to his visit to Haryana, he said Haryanvis say that it a matter of pride that they are miles ahead of Punjab.<br /><br />"We need to change this and make Punjab stand up and be successful again," he said.<br />Asked about the party's social media campaign, he attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that BJP spent about Rs 800 crore to tarnish his image on social media.<br />Congress does not spend on social media to tarnish anyone's image, be it Modi or Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.<br /><br />"If Congress utilises its strength in a systematic manner, it will form the next government in Punjab," he said.<br /><br />Asked who will be the chief ministerial candidate of the party, he said that Congress follows a process where the CM is declared after the election.<br /><br />Gandhi refused to comment on the contentious Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue, saying the matter is sub-judice.<br /><br />Gandhi's meeting with party leaders, which was organised by poll strategist Prashant Kishor's organisation Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC), was out of bounds for the media.<br /><br />Congress aims to wrest power in Punjab in 2017 after setbacks in the 2007 and 2012 polls, when it was defeated by the SAD-BJP coalition.<br /></p>