Rahul Gandhi pitches for anti-drug campaign in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: Offering his full support in the fight against the drug-menace in Punjab, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today pitched for an anti-drug campaign in the state.

Gandhi, who was interacting with students of Punjab University (PU) here, said " Punjab government had made fun of him when he had said that 70 per cent of youths in Punjab were into drugs".

He asked National Students' Union of India (NSUI), party's student wing, to roll out an anti-drug campaign in Punjab and said he will support it in every possible manner to discourage youths from taking drugs.

In an over half-an-hour-long interaction, Gandhi took several questions posed by students on several issues including youths entry into politics, Central university status for PU and his "inaccessibility".

The media was barred from covering Rahul Gandhi's interaction with students which was organised by the NSUI.

NSUI national president Roji M John, who was present in the interaction programme, briefed the media later.

It was Rahul Gandhi's second interaction with PU students. His first interaction was held in 2012.

Gandhi, in 2012, during his interaction with students here had said, "Out of every 10 youths in Punjab seven are into drugs," earning the wrath of SAD-BJP-led Punjab government which had slammed Gandhi for his statement on drug menace in Punjab, asking him how the Congress leader came to this "mathematical conclusion" on drug addiction in the state.