UPA regime responsible for drug problem in Punjab: Vijay Sampla

FARIDKOT: Union Minister of state Vijay Sampla has charged the previous UPA regime with being responsible for prevailing drug menace in Punjab.

"Neither the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and nor the BJP is responsible for the drug problem in the state," he said last evening at Sandhwan village near Kotkapura while addressing a drug awareness programme.

"The drug problem is due to the wrong policy of the previous UPA government as it gave tax concessions to the neighbouring states for setting up industries which resulted in shifting of the industrial units from Punjab giving birth to unemployment of youths who became prone to drugs," he said.

Sampla admitted to the existing drug problem in Punjab, but evaded a reply to a question whether the ruling SAD-BJP alliance government had allegedly failed to provide employment opportunities to youths and curbing the drug addiction in the state.

The minister also paid visit to Muktsar district where he held public meetings with the BJP workers and RSS activists. Although, he refuted claims that his visit to rural areas of the state is aimed at strengthening RSS base in the state.