Delhi CM targets AAP government over drug issue; BJP says 13-day campaign aims to mobilise people across Punjab

Fatehgarh Sahib, 19 September (H.S.): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday flagged off the second leg of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra” from Fatehgarh Sahib, stepping up the party’s campaign against drug abuse in Punjab. The BJP’s four-route campaign is scheduled to cover all 117 Assembly constituencies before concluding in Jalandhar on September 30.

Before launching the yatra from the grain market, Gupta paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Jyoti Saroop Sahib and offered prayers. Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, party’s Punjab in-charge Satish Poonia, national vice-president Manpreet Singh Badal and other leaders were present.

Addressing the gathering, Gupta accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of failing to fulfil its earlier promise of controlling the drug problem within a fixed timeframe. She also targeted AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that he exercised undue influence over Punjab’s affairs and questioned the state government’s governance and spending priorities.

Gupta said the BJP wanted the yatra to become a wider public campaign against drugs, crime and insecurity. She urged people to draw inspiration from the sacrifices associated with Fatehgarh Sahib and participate in efforts against drug abuse.

Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon said the campaign was intended to reach families affected by addiction and described it as a people’s movement rather than merely a party programme. He also alleged attempts had been made to disrupt BJP activities, referring to black-flag protests and the incident involving BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu’s convoy a day earlier. Bittu had alleged that stones and eggs were thrown at his convoy while he was travelling to join the yatra.

Manpreet Singh Badal said Punjab’s youth and its contribution to the armed forces made tackling drug abuse especially important. He said the BJP’s approach would focus on disrupting drug supply chains, treatment and rehabilitation, and preventing younger generations from falling into addiction.

Pathankot MLA and former Punjab BJP State President Ashwani Sharma launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

“Can anyone expect a person who cannot give up alcohol even after swearing on his mother to control drugs? He came to the Assembly after consuming alcohol. Mann cannot stop drugs. The people of Punjab themselves will have to come forward to stop drugs,” Sharma said.

He said the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra was political, but also represented the voice of the people of Punjab.

Former MP Avinash Rai Khanna, Geja Ram Valmiki and Didar Singh Bhatti, among others, also addressed the gathering.

Those present on the occasion included Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra in-charge Rajesh Bagha, BJP General Secretaries Parminder Singh Brar and Manjit Singh Rai, BJP leaders H.S. Phoolka, Jagdeep Singh Cheema, Ekta Nagpal, N.K. Verma, Ajay Kaushal, Sukhwinder Singh Goldy, Sukhwant Rai Giga, Karambeer Tohra, Arun Khosla, Meenu Sethi, K.D. Bhandari, S.S. Channi, Ranjit Singh, Jeevan Gupta, Rakesh Sharma, Didar Singh Bhatti, Iqbal Singh Channi, and Dr Harbans Lal, along with other party leaders and workers.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH