Rajya Sabha: MPs raise concern over Punjab drug issue

Several MPs in Rajya Sabha expressed concern about the growing drug menace in Punjab, with the Opposition Congress demanding a CBI probe into the allegations against ministers of the ruling SAD-BJP combine in the state. However, the government emphasised that it was taking steps to eradicate the menace.

Raising the issue during the Question Hour, nominated member K.T.S. Tulsi pointed out that the number of drug-related cases being reported from Punjab was disproportionately high and out of the 15 top districts on this count, 13 belonged to Punjab.

Seeking to know what steps was the Modi government taking to check the “alarming situation”, Mr Tulsi said nearly 40 cases were being reported from the state every day, which was nearly half of the reported cases in the entire country.

Replying to the concern, minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said the government has not termed the situation as not serious as “any situation in which youth are taking to drugs has to be taken seriously”. He said the Home Ministry was in constant touch with the state government to take on the menace. Mr Tulsi, however, alleged “it is widely believed that a minister in the state government is involved in drug smuggling”. He claimed that the traffickers were not being targeted and added it appeared that the Centre too was complicit in protecting the state.