Barnala, 24 September (H.S.): Congress burnt Sikhs alive by putting tyres around their necks, while the Aam Aadmi Party and the drug mafia are killing our young children by feeding them ‘chitta’ (drugs). Just as a long struggle was required to secure justice for the victims of the anti-Sikh riots, the time has now come to wage the final battle against drug traffickers and the Aam Aadmi Party government that is allegedly providing them protection.”

Senior advocate and BJP leader H.S. Phoolka made these remarks on Thursday at Tapa Mandi in Barnala on the fourth day of the BJP’s ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’.

Rallies were held on Thursday at Bhadaur, Tapa Mandi, Barnala, Karmgarh and Sherpur (Mehal Kalan). Punjab BJP general secretary Anil Sareen, Sardar Kamaljit Sohi, Satyen Ojha, Nipun Sharma, Somnath Sharma, Dharamjit Fauji, Narinder Neeta, P.K. Bhardwaj, Ashwani Sharma, along with several other party leaders and workers, were present.

Phoolka alleged that instead of taking action against drug traffickers, the local police were harassing victim families. He alleged that this was being done at the behest of the state government to prevent people from raising their voices against the drug menace.

He said people must now resolve to eradicate drugs from their villages in order to protect the lives of their children. He added that the BJP, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stood firmly with the people of Punjab.

BJP leader and yatra convenor Dayal Singh Sodhi said drug abuse was one of Punjab’s most sensitive issues, with young people losing their lives every day, while the state government was merely indulging in rhetoric. He said the BJP had now taken up the responsibility of making Punjab drug-free.

He said the yatra was not a political campaign and that other political parties had also been invited to participate. He alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party, however, opposed the initiative and even showed black flags.

Meanwhile, BJP leader and yatra convenor Charanjit Brar appealed to the people to give the BJP an opportunity. He said the people had already tried the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party, but none had made an effective effort to eliminate drugs from the state.

He said the BJP would take concrete measures to completely dismantle the drug network in Punjab within two years of coming to power.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH