Rahul blames SAD for drugs

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the ruling Akali Dal of patronising drug trade in Punjab, saying 'the only business that can be done with ease in Punjab is that of drugs'.

Addressing a well-attended rally in Punjab’s Jalandhar on Monday, Rahul said if Punjab needs a future, drugs have to go  and there is no other way. Earlier, Punjab Congress president pledged to rectify the problem of drugs in Punjab within 4-weeks of coming to power.

The Congress’s high decibel pitch on drugs underlines the party’s election strategy with drugs as an important, if not foremost, element of the campaign. 

Rahul said, “There’s another matter linked to drugs. Its about the law and order and unemployment in Punjab. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks of ease of business, Badal talks about ease of business.  In Punjab there is only one business that is done with ease and that if of drugs.” He said the Punjab Police have no shortcomings since the force has once defeated terrorism. “But, good officers are not allowed to work here. You have to empower the police, get good officers and remove the bad ones. You do this and in 4 -week drugs will receive a serious setback,” he said.

Gandhi said a new law will be brought to curb the drug menace and restore the money made by drug dealers to the victims’ families. Gandhi, while accusing the Akalis of trying to get the film Udta Punjab banned’, said the government was not prepared to accept the reality in Punjab.