Dope test for employees rages debate amongst local political leaders

LUDHIANA: A day after Captain Amarinder Singh government took a decision to make the dope test mandatory for of all the government employees, local leaders from the politicla parties here were seen vying with each other to justify their partie’s stand in favour and against the move.

Though most of the local leaders supported the decision, those from the opposition parties reiterated that the Congress leaders should take a lead in getting their dope tests done and set an example. Asserting that the test should be made mandatory for all leaders whether in ruling or in opposition including Chief minister himself, they also pitched for amendment in the provisions by the Election Commission so as to make it mandatory for the candidates before the elections.

The senior BJP leader and former cabinet minister Madan Mohan Mittal who was here on Thursday asked Capt to first offer his dope test and make the results public. The party leaders demanded that election commission should make it a law that before contesting elections the leaders should be asked to give report of their dope tests along with other documents and in case anyone was found positive he should not be allowed to contest the polls.

“The CM had vowed to end this menace in four weeks but he could not control it. He should accept his failure and now volunteer to get his dope test conducted. The CM should set an example for other leaders and instead of politicising he should actually make efforts to wipe out the problem,” said Mittal. He also added that there was a need to take action against tainted cops and give free hand to the senior police officials to catch hold of the kingpin of this menace.

The state general secretary of Aam Aadmi Party Ahbaab Grewal considered this move mere cosmetic measure by saying that government should fix punishment for the employees whose dope test will be found positive because it will bring desired result only when employees will have the fear of action. “We are ready for the dope test but first of all CM captain Amarinder Singh go and get his dope test done and circulate the report among public. Grewal said candidates who will be found dope test positive should not be allowed to contest the elections only then political patronage would stop.

“The government did not catch even a single big drug supplier in the state which indicates towards many things. There is clear political patronage to these drug peddlers and this is the reason Punjab police that had ended terrorism in the state is unable to curb drugs menace.”

Echoing similar views BJP district president Ravinder Arora said the party would support any step that is aimed at curbing the menace, but this decision should be implemented within the parties to start with.

“Every party should get the dope test of its workers done and party heads should perform their role in encouraging the public for not taking any kind of drug.

The district president of Shiromani Akali Dal Ranjit Dhillon said, “The state government should ban liquor as well in case they want to conduct dope test of all employees. He said Congress leaders should come forward and get their dope tests conducted and bring their reports in public if they want to set an example. Dhillon said, “I personally believe it is not possible to wipe out drugs in a whisker. The government should legalize the natural drugs like opium and poppy husk because these are not fatal. The youth should be diverted to these natural drugs for some time and gradually even these drugs should be reduced.”

However the food and civil supply minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said, “I am ready to get this test done any time but those who are demanding for our tests should come and get their tests done. In fact some of our MLAs have already started getting test done.” He said Congress government is committed to wipe out drugs menace and they will fulfill their promise.