Sachin Pilot slams Amit Shah’s remarks, says BJP's anti-drug march was a failure
Congress leader Sachin Pilot calls BJP's anti-drug march a failure and blames the Centre for failing to stop drug smuggling into Punjab.
Congress leader and AICC incharge for Punjab, Sachin Pilot, launched a scathing attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday, describing the BJP's recent anti-drug march in the state as a "complete failure." Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Pilot accused the Central government of failing to secure the borders, allowing massive quantities of drugs to flow into Punjab.
"Massive quantities of drugs are entering"
The political confrontation follows Amit Shah's recent rally in Jalandhar as part of the BJP’s Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra. While Shah alleged that the AAP government allowed the trade of synthetic drugs, or "chitta," to flourish, Pilot turned the blame back toward the Centre.
"You have failed to curb smuggling at the border, and massive quantities of drugs are entering from there," Pilot stated. He further questioned the competence of the central leadership, asking, "If the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs are unable to perform their duties, how can one believe their claim that they will make Punjab drug-free?"
Pilot targets both BJP and AAP
While Pilot's primary criticism was directed at the Union Home Minister, he did not spare the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab. He highlighted that the state government had failed to meet its own campaign promises.
- On AAP's promises: Pilot noted that the AAP government had pledged to make Punjab drug-free within just three months of taking office. He claimed that nearly five years later, the situation has only worsened.
- On the drug nexus: He alleged that the spread of drugs in villages, streets, and cities is a result of a nexus between the administration, police, and politicians.
- On government data: Pilot dismissed the state government's figures regarding arrests and actions against drug networks, calling them misleading.
The BJP's promise to Punjab
The verbal duel comes after Amit Shah vowed that the BJP would make a drug-free Punjab its central campaign issue in the upcoming Assembly elections. Addressing the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, Shah promised the people of Punjab that if the BJP is voted to power, they will ensure the state is free from the drug trade by December 31, 2029.
"I have come today to tell the people of Punjab that in the Punjab elections, there are many issues—farmers' issues, industry issues, law and order issues, women's safety issues. But in the upcoming election, the Bharatiya Janata Party is going to fight solely and purely on the issue of a drug-free Punjab," Shah declared.
Broader concerns over electoral rolls
During his interaction, Pilot also touched upon national issues regarding the Election Commission. He expressed serious concerns regarding the INDIA bloc's demand for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Pilot argued that the matter is not just about one alliance but affects the entire country, citing concerns over the cancellation of votes for 13 crore people and irregularities in the electoral roll processes.
The Congress leader's remarks were made following a high-level meeting at the AICC office, which included senior leaders such as KC Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Jairam Ramesh.