Sukhbir Singh Badal seeks ban on opium sale in BJP-ruled MP, Rajasthan

CHANDIGARH: Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the anguish of mothers in Punjab over the rising drug menace among children, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday countered the charge by asking the PM and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to ban the sale of opium and poppy husk in BJP-ruled states such as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

In what appears like a direct standoff between the political allies in Punjab – Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP – Badal stressed that the ban on sale of opium and poppy husk in BJP-ruled states was imperative to contain the drug threat in Punjab. PM Modi had mentioned about the anguish suffered by mothers in the state in his Sunday’s radio programme “Mann ki Baat”.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, Sukhbir said, “There should be a complete ban on legal cultivation and sale of opium and poppy husk in BJP-ruled states as drug peddlers smuggle these narcotics to Punjab and other states.” Responding to a query on Modi’s mention to Punjab, Badal also asked the PM to “check cross-border narco terrorism”.

“I am going to take up the issue with the PM and home minister. Punjab is being used as a transit route by drug peddlers. They must press the BSF to stop illegal flow of drugs from across the border,” he added. The saffron party, however, hit back at SAD stating that the Akalis must first ask their sitting MLAs, summoned by the central agencies in the Rs 6,000-crore synthetic drugs scam, to step down.

BJP said that Akalis must not make such random statements on the role of neighbouring states, arguing that SAD should have some cogent proof to substantiate their claims (that drugs are being smuggled from MP and Rajasthan).