BJP will make Punjab drug-free: Nitin Nabin

BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Friday  said that the party is committed to making Punjab drug-free as he launched the BJP’s 4,000-km “Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra” across the state on Friday.He said Punjab faced an enemy that did not wear a uniform but entered villages and homes through addiction, gradually affecting entire families.Nabin said the BJP’s campaign would seek to involve people across the state in the fight against drug addiction and the drug trade.

BJP chief Nabin further said he had come from Patna, the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, with a message to take the BJP’s drug-free campaign to every corner of Punjab. “I have come with a call to make Punjab completely drug-free,” he said.

BJP chief Nabin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent him a message that the fight against drugs should begin from Punjab, describing drug addiction as a threat to the state’s youth and future. He said Modi had also initiated a nationwide campaign against drugs and appealed to young people to leave addiction behind and move towards new opportunities.

Nabin cited the Centre’s action against terrorism and Naxalism as examples of its resolve to tackle major challenges. He said the BJP was committed to applying the same resolve to the fight against drugs in Punjab. Criticising the state government, Nabin alleged that the Punjab government was providing shelter to the drug trade. He warned that drug addiction could eventually affect the homes of those who allowed the trade to continue.

BJP chief Nabin who was wearing a traditional saffron turban on the occasion,  said the fight against drugs was not just the BJP’s but also a fight for the people of Punjab, calling on the government and administration to join the campaign.The 13-day BJP campaign began from Madhopur in Pathankot district and will cover all 117 Assembly constituencies before concluding in Jalandhar on September 30. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address the concluding rally.

Nabin also accused the Punjab government of failing to control the drug menace. Referring to the recent death of a Dalit man, he alleged that government exploitation had forced him to commit suicide.

Meanwhile, BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu alleged that his convoy was attacked while he was travelling to Pathankot to attend the party’s anti-drug campaign. The incident took place near the Batala-Gurdaspur highway, where a group of people allegedly threw eggs, tomatoes and other objects at Bittu’s convoy of around eight to nine vehicles.

The BJP chief also alleged that BJP leaders and workers were stopped from meeting the man’s family. On the alleged attack on BJP leader Bittu and other party workers travelling to the event, Nabin said such incidents would not deter BJP workers from continuing their campaign.

He also referred to the BJP’s campaign over Article 370 and its fight against Naxalism, saying the party had demonstrated its resolve in pursuing its commitments.