Chandigarh: Ahead of BJP’s ‘Nasha Mukt Yatra’ starting Sept 18, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday accused the party of defaming Punjab over the drug issue while ignoring similar problems in BJP-governed states.Addressing a news conference, Mann asserted that his govt is taking decisive action against organised crime and narcotics, criticising the opposition for engaging in “vulture politics” by exploiting isolated incidents to stay in the spotlight.“Border seizures from Pakistan usually come in smaller packets of 1 to 10 kg, whereas 3,000 kg of drugs are intercepted at Gujarat’s ports — the Union home minister’s home state,” Mann said. Punjab Police have acted on intelligence inputs to make drug busts in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, he said, adding, “Instead of defaming Punjab, the Centre should secure Mundra port as that alone would largely eliminate Punjab’s drug menace. You allow the supply line to run and then plan an anti-drug yatra here. You cannot fool the public like this,” Mann said. The CM said the Punjab govt will crack down on drug supplies coming from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.He dismissed criticism from Congress and Akali Dal, arguing that parties which “nurtured gangsters” have no authority to lecture on law and order, and urged all three opposition parties to stop their “dirty politics” and present a constructive vision for the state.The CM said that while his govt was taking decisive action against gangsters and the drug menace. He said 10 gangsters have been brought back to Punjab from abroad since Jan and nearly 80% of the drugs coming from Pakistan have been eliminated following the govt’s crackdown. “Any attempt to portray the entire state through the prism of isolated incidents is a deliberate attempt to malign Punjab and its people,” he said. “Our fight is not limited to making arrests. We are identifying networks, intercepting consignments, choking financial channels and bringing the perpetrators to justice,” he added.The CM said instead of indulging in “politics of opportunism”, the opposition should join hands with the govt in the larger interest of Punjab.‘Where did 54 AK-47s come from?’Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said the state police had seized 54 AK-47s as part of its crackdown. Highlighting the need for a concerted effort to check the inflow of weapons, CM Bhagwant Mann said, “From where did 54 AK-47s come? It is the Union home ministry’s job to find out. The weapons must have come via Kashmir or Gujarat. Instead of a blame game or credit war, the need of the hour is to make a joint effort to seize such weapons before these are misused,” he said. Mann added, “Preventing smuggling across the international border is primarily the responsibility of the Centre, yet the Punjab govt has installed anti-drone systems with its own funds to curb drugs. In Gujarat, lakhs of tonnes of drugs are being seized but no action is taken, while Punjab has launched the country’s biggest campaign against drugs.”CRACKDOWN ON GANGSTERSCM Bhagwant Mann said gangsterism was a national issue posing a serious threat to the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country, alleging the Centre had failed to curb it. He said, “The nefarious designs of the BJP are solely aimed at defaming Punjab and Punjabis, which cannot be tolerated at any cost. The govt has acted firmly against gangsters, with a large number of arrests and deportation proceedings against individuals linked to organised crime.” Replying to a question, CM Mann accused the Centre of failing to address the problem of gangsters at a national level. “Punjab gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has been given shelter by BJP govt in Gujarat jail, and he isn’t even being allowed to be brought to the state,” he said.Centre ignoring Pb: CMCM Mann said Punjab doesn’t receive any help from the Centre when required. He said that the Rs 1,600 crore announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for flood relief was not given and the state was asked to adjust it from different heads. He also blamed the Centre for not incorporating the state’ views while formulating the Seeds Bill.
