Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today promised to end the drug problem in Punjab within a month if his party is voted to power in assembly elections next year.
While speaking at a protest rally in Jalandhar, Rahul said that Punjab can get a better future only if the menace of drug is ended in the state.
“There are good police officers in Punjab police who want to work but Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government is not giving them the required freedom to function,” Rahul said at the rally which was attended by Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh and other senior leaders of the state.
“If the Congress comes to power, the drug problem will be curbed in a month because we intend to give more powers to the police,” he said.
Referring to the current controversy surrounding ‘Udta Punjab’, Gandhi said: “Movies are being banned. They have banned ‘Udta Punjab’. They still don’t want to accept the reality.”
The Congress vice-president also said the drug menace can only be eliminated if the police are given more power.
“The government here encourages the drug trade because it benefits them. We can solve the problem in one month if we are voted to power. All you need to do is free the hands of the police. Only the Congress can do it.”
Gandhi’s protest comes at a time when there is an ongoing controversy over certification of Bollywood film ‘Udta Punjab’, based on the menace of drugs in the state.
Gandhi is being accompanied by members of the Congress’ Punjab unit, and also highlighted the alleged deterioration in the law and order situation in the state.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has dubbed Gandhi’s protest against drugs as ridiculous and alleged that the Congress was adopting double standards as the grand party had failed to initiate any action on the same when the matter was brought to the notice of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
