Centre’s drug survey seen as BJP’s effort to gain ground in Punjab

By ​Vinay Sharma

CHANDIGARH: As Centre prepares to conduct a survey on drug menace in Punjab, National Democratic Alliance constituent – Shiromani Akali Dal — is left with little space to evade the politically sensitive issue.

The outcome of survey, as everyone feels, will not only nail SAD-led government, but also provide enough fodder to Congress and Aam Aadmi Party. Political Pundits claim BJP is preparing ground for the 2017 assembly elections and that’s the reason it is raising the drugs issue. For BJP, emboldened by the success of RSS Shakhas across the hinterlands in Punjab and early revival of the Panthic agenda by the Akalis, time is ripe to take a plunge on its own. On top of it, a divided Congress and faction-ridden AAP have emboldened the BJP.

Shiromani Akali Dal is dead against such surveys. “This has given a bad name to the state. Punjabis are being projected as drug addicts,” says a senior SAD leader. However, noseniorSADwillopposeit openly. The senior SAD brass has expressed its anguish with the BJP over the survey. Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, also MP from Hoshiarpur, Vijay Sampla speaks of making“drugs” a major issue in 2017 elections. “Five agencies will collect data of people using drugs. This will be conducted under the aegis of Delhi AIIMS. We have already held three rounds of meetings with five agencies and they will be hitting the hinterlands soon,” Sampla said.