"Spread drug trade across country": AAP's Anurag Dhanda targets BJP over Punjab issue
AAP leader Anurag Dhanda accuses BJP of spreading drug trade in Punjab and other states, countering Amit Shah's claims against the AAP government.
In a scathing attack on the ruling dispensation, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Media In-charge Anurag Dhanda has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being responsible for the widespread drug menace in Punjab. Dhanda's remarks come in direct response to recent statements made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the narcotics situation in the state.
Countering Amit Shah's Claims
Speaking to the media, Dhanda criticized the Union Home Minister's recent visit to Punjab and his remarks against the state government led by Bhagwant Mann. He suggested that the Home Minister's tone was a result of frustration following the lack of public response to the BJP's recent campaign.
"In Punjab, Amit Shah was venting his frustration by hurling abuses at Bhagwant Mann. Why was he hurling abuses? Because their campaign had been going on for days, yet not even four people showed up for it," Dhanda stated, referring to the BJP's 'Drug-Free Punjab Yatra'.
The Akali-BJP Alliance Connection
Dhanda placed the blame for the current narcotics crisis squarely on the shoulders of the previous administration. He alleged that the drug epidemic that has plagued Punjab for years was facilitated during the tenure of the Akali Dal-BJP coalition government.
"It was the Akali-BJP government, in power between 2007 and 2017, under which drugs reached every household in Punjab; the state has been grappling with that very problem ever since, striving to fight and eradicate the menace," Dhanda claimed.
Furthermore, the AAP leader extended these accusations beyond Punjab, alleging that the BJP has been involved in spreading the drug trade across various parts of the country, citing narcotics seizures in Gujarat and concerns in Haryana as evidence.
BJP's Promise to Make Punjab Drug-Free
The controversy follows a public address by Amit Shah in Jalandhar, where he accused the AAP government of allowing the trade of "chitta" (synthetic drugs) to flourish. The BJP has vowed to make Punjab entirely drug-free by December 31, 2029, if they are returned to power.
Shah emphasized that while many issues like farming, industry, and women's safety are important, the BJP intends to make a drug-free Punjab the central theme of its upcoming Assembly election campaign. He appealed to the youth and mothers of the state to support the BJP to end the synthetic drug trade.
Call for Unity on Electoral Integrity
Shifting focus to the recent INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi, Dhanda addressed concerns regarding the integrity of electoral processes. He expressed support for the "Fix the Election Commission" movement initiated by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Dhanda stressed that any attempt to tamper with the right to vote is a matter of national significance, affecting 1.4 billion citizens. He urged all political parties and alliances to unite and support this youth-led initiative to protect the democratic process.