Smuggle gold, not drugs, bail is easier: Rajasthan MLA

Jodhpur: In a video that went viral on social media on Wednesday, BJP MLA of Bilara, Arjun Lal Garg, is seen telling a gathering to shun drug peddling and smuggle gold instead.

Garg is seen telling the audience that it was easier to come out of jail on bail if caught smuggling the yellow metal than for peddling narcotics. He further tells the audience that it would be a matter of pride to be arrested for gold smuggling.

Garg, while making the statement before members of Dewasi community, said he was surprised that a large number of people lodged in Jodhpur jail under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were dewasis.


“Let me tell you that the Dewasi community has broken the record of other Bishnois communities in drug peddling”, Garg said. “If you really want to do some illegal business, then go in for gold smuggling. Prices of both are the same but it is safer to do gold business than deal in drugs.”

The video was recorded on May 7 at a consecration ceremony of a temple in Bilara’s Jaitawas village. The TOI, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

The members of Dewasi community, however, were surprised. “I cannot accept that a large number of prisoners in Jodhpur jail are from Dewasi community. Also, smuggling anything is a crime,” said Sukhdev Dewasi, district secretary of Raika Mahasabha.