Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Official Spokesperson, PPCC and ex-MLA from Bholath.
Jalandhar, May 26, 2013: Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Official Spokesperson, PPCC and ex-MLA from Bholath in Kapurthala district, has said now that the can of worms has been opened by a former top cop of the state, alleging deep rooted nexus between the politicians, police and drug mafia, operating not only in the jails but ruining the youth of Punjab as well.
“The sensational disclosures made by Shashi Kant, ex-DGP, Punjab need to be thoroughly investigated and acted upon without any further delay”, demanded Khaira at a press conference here on Sunday.
Adding, he said needless to mention, the drug menace is the biggest challenge facing the society of our state. Unfortunately, those in power instead of curbing this menace with an iron hand have become facilitators of drugs. Different reports of GNDU, NGO’s and other organisations have indicated to 70 percent youth taking to drugs in one form or the another, he said, adding politicians cutting across parties in order to reap personal political gains have further added to the woes of the people, by distributing drugs during all elections that include even the religious body.
He said now that the ex-DGP has made a specific charge that he had prepared a detailed report about narcotics trade in the state. This report had been prepared after obtaining information from various intelligence agencies and had sent the same to the DGP Sumedh Saini, about a year back. As per his report, more than 185 top officials of jail department are involved in the drug trade besides 10 top politicians and several businessmen, he added.
“Unfortunately, it is a matter of shame and disgrace that the DGP Punjab has pushed this sensational report under the wraps. It only goes to show that the DGP and the government are shielding and protecting politician-police-drug mafia nexus, thus doing a great disservice to the state, besides abdicating their authority”, he remarked.
Further, he said Congress also castigates the CM for diverting attention and shifting the onus of drug trade by blaming soft international borders. “Costly drugs such as cocaine and heroin do come through international borders but what about poppy husk, smack, opium, illicit liquor, injections, tablets, syrups and other localised drugs, which are openly available in every nook and corner of the state and patronised by the police”, he pointed out.
He sought that in order to bare the truth about drug trade, it is demanded that the SAD-BJP government publish a white paper on the disclosures of the ex-DGP, make his detailed report public and allow an all party joint committee of the Vidhan Sabha to visit all jails of the state. “Congress also urges the Union Home Minister to send a fact finding team to Punjab to prevent further drug trafficking”, he also demanded.