Punjab Congress Leader Condemns Government Failures in Drug Crisis
Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring has launched a scathing attack on both the state and central governments, declaring they have "completely failed" to address the escalating drug menace in Punjab. This condemnation comes in the wake of the tragic overdose death of Aaksh Saini, a young graduate and football player, in Amritsar.
"Punjab is Dying": Warring Sounds Alarm on Drug Epidemic
Warring described the current situation in Punjab as "very alarming" and starkly stated that "Punjab is dying." Reacting specifically to Saini's death, he asserted that the claims of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's much-publicized anti-drug campaign, 'Yudh Nashya Virudh,' now stand thoroughly exposed. He directly challenged the state government to demonstrate tangible results from this initiative.
The Congress leader also referenced a recent march led by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who had proclaimed the campaign a success. Warring countered these claims, demanding that the governor produce concrete figures and data to substantiate any alleged success in the fight against narcotics.
Critique of Government Strategy and Allegations of Neglect
Warring emphasized that the solution lies beyond mere police action. "Mere FIRs will not finish drugs. We must accept there is not any success in the fight against drugs," he stated. He argued for a fundamental shift in focus towards a comprehensive de-addiction process that prioritizes treatment and rehabilitation for addicts.
Highlighting a critical security failure, Warring pointed out that drugs continue to flow into Punjab via drones from across the international border, a situation he attributes to the joint failure of the Punjab government and the BJP-led central government to secure the state's borders.
Targeting the AAP administration, Warring labeled it a "deaf and dumb" dispensation. He accused the government of misallocating resources, spending large sums on political 'yatras' (journeys) and publicity campaigns while critically neglecting de-addiction and rehabilitation programs. "If the money spent on yatras was used for de-addiction and rehabilitation, the results would have been different," he contended, adding that he had informed Governor Kataria that the campaign had yielded "not a penny's worth" of actual benefit.
Allegations of Pressure and Systemic Failure
Warring made serious allegations regarding the handling of Aaksh Saini's case. He claimed that the deceased youth's family was pressured against pursuing a post-mortem examination and that there was undue haste in proceeding with his cremation. Furthermore, he alleged that media houses are being pressured to suppress news coverage related to drug overdose deaths.
In a poignant reference, Warring mentioned that the victim's father is a policeman, describing the tragedy of a helpless father sitting beside his son's body. He recounted the father's desperate plea that people should leave Punjab to save their children, a statement Warring cited as emblematic of the deep despair felt by families.
Stating that the drug scourge has penetrated even rural villages, Warring declared the government's anti-drug drive a failure. He concluded that tackling drug abuse is not an overnight task but requires sustained and serious efforts with a genuine emphasis on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, rather than what he termed "false assurances" from the authorities.
