Ludhiana: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday launched an attack against the ruling Congress and opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), accusing both parties of shielding drug traders. A protest was organised by AAP in Ludhiana in which leaders of AAP, including Jagraon MLA Sarabjit Kaur Manuke, Garhshankar MLA Jai Krishan Singh Rouri and state youth wing co-president Anmol Gagan Mann, were also present, who claimed that the state government was turning a blind eye to the free run by drug lords like Gurdeep Singh Rano.
Later, AAP leaders and workers burnt effigies of chief minister Amarinder Singh and former chief minister Sukhbir Badal during their dharna at Bharat Nagar Chowk.
Addressing the workers during the protest MLA Manuke said, “The subsequent governments in Punjab have always betrayed the people of Punjab and looted them financially. For years, both Congress and SAD have been hell bent on ruining the future of the youth of Punjab by deliberately turning a blind eye to the drug menace in the state. When the entire state and the country is sitting quietly at home amid the corona pandemic, Amarinder Singh’s advisers are allowing drug smugglers to have a free run under cover. No drug smuggler can dare to operate freely in the state without the backing of the government machinery. The CM who also holds home portfolio, should own responsibility of the activities of the drug smugglers and crack a whip on them, sooner or later.”
Manuke also said, “The top brass of Ludhiana police was also aware of Rano’s illegal activities but due to the pressures of their political masters, they refrained from taking action against him. Meanwhile, our CM, who had promised to eradicate the menace of drugs from Punjab and even took the oath of Gutka Sahib is now running away from the promise he made.”
MLA Rouri also addressed the gathering and said, “Earlier, the SAD government and now Amarinder government have ruined the lives of the youth of Punjab. Due to the menace of drugs, incidents of crime in Punjab have touched a new high in the state but even then the government is turning a blind eye to the rising crime.”
Anmol Gagan Mann too launched a scathing attack against the state government and said that the CM should own up responsibility for rampant drug trade in Punjab, which was running under alleged political patronage. She said that unemployed and poverty stricken youth of Punjab were falling prey to drugs, while the chief minister was busy in kingly ceremonies. She also attached the government for providing security to drug smuggler Rano during the coronavirus induced lockdown.
Other leaders and workers present on the occasion included Amandeep Singh Mohi, Suresh Goyal, Jaswinder Singh Bulara, Dinesh Chadha, Parminder Singh Jaswal, Gurna Singh , Prem Kumar, Shivcharan Singh Chenchi, Gurdev Singh Singhala, Megh Chand, Gurdarshan Singh Kohli.