Proposed dharnas are against drugs, not against BSF: Parkash Singh Badal

Amritsar: Ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday made it clear that dharnas by the party to be on January 5 should not be misconstrued against Border Security Force (BSF) or any other government agency. SAD Patron and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday said the proposed sit-in by his party "must not be misconstrued against any government agency" rather it is against drug menace in the state.

"The proposed protest of the SAD was against the curse of drugs in the state and not against the BSF or any other government agency," Badal said. The SAD on Sunday last had said that they would be holding sit-ins along the International Border (IB) on January 5 to "pressurise the BSF to stop entry of drugs from Pakistan side".

In a climb down from its stance over the proposed dharna early next month, the SAD on Tuesday said that the sit-in near the IB was be "to create awareness about drugs rather than to pressurise the BSF to stop entry of drugs from Pakistan side".

The SAD would hold dharnas at three places which would precede an anti-drug campaign, which BJP President Amit Shah is set to begin on January 12. Badal today said the state was not only fighting the war of the nation but also of the world against drugs as Punjab was on the transit route of the drugs supplied across the globe from international border.

He blamed some forces inimical to the interests of Punjab for tarnishing the image of Punjabis and said "rather than helping the state to confront this crisis some forces inimical to the interests of Punjab were hell bent upon tarnishing its image by branding the brave Punjabis as drug peddlers."

Badal said the SAD has a glorious track record of struggling for safeguarding the interests of the state so at this crucial time, the party has decided to wage a war against drugs. The Chief Minister said the state government would has decided to focus on cutting the supply line of drugs by nabbing drug peddlers and putting them behind the bars.

Likewise, Badal said, a network of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres have been set up to detoxify the drug addicts and enabling them to live a life with dignity and pride. The Chief Minister said the curse of drugs was the biggest problem faced by the country in general and state in particular.

"The only solution for checking this menace was to totally cut down the supply line of drugs both from within the country and from abroad," he said. Badal also pitched for initiating some serious efforts to seal the IB, apart from refraining the states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and others to openly sell drugs like poppy husk.

On SAD-BJP alliance, Badal said this alliance has always stood the test of time. "The SAD-BJP alliance is everlasting and both the parties should not be seen as different from each other," he said. Describing SAD-BJP alliance as a "unique phenomenon" of the Indian democratic system which has passed every litmus test in last few decades, he said "the relationship between both the alliance partners was very strong, impeccable and cordial because it has been time and again cemented with mutual affection and understanding.

Replying to another question, Badal said the Union government must intervene for securing the release of Sikh prisoners languishing in various jails even after completing of their term.