Launching campaign for the yet to be announced Ludhiana West Assembly bypoll, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday announced the launch of a “Jan Andolan (mass movement)” against drugs in Punjab from April 1.
Former Delhi chief minister Kejriwal further said a “drug census” would be conducted across the state to ascertain the extent of drugs prevalence in Punjab.
Addressing a rally at Ludhiana’s Indoor Stadium, Kejriwal, who was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, said, “From April 1, more than three crore Punjabis will stand against the scourge of drugs by decimating a handful of smugglers who are ruining the generations of state for minting money.”
Kejriwal said as part of the mass movement, each AAP party worker would go to villages to eliminate drugs from the state. “This will be a decisive war against drugs,” Kejriwal said.
Launching an anti-drug helpline number “9779100200”, Kejriwal exhorted the people to give any information related to selling of drugs in their areas on this number. “The identity of the caller will not be disclosed to anyone but exemplary action against drug smugglers will be taken,” he said.
“Census teams will visit every household to check the extent of drugs prevalence in cities and villages. The identities of drug victims will be kept secret but corrective measures will be taken subsequently. Besides, to keep youths away from the menace of drugs, playgrounds and gyms will be opened in every village,” Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal said soon, the Punjab government would launch anti-drone technology to check the supply of drugs from across the border as 70 per cent of drugs was being supplied from Pakistan.
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Noting that even “Pakistan has been left baffled” by Punjab’s latest drive against drugs, Kejriwal said, “Soon anti-drone technology will be installed along the border and every drone coming from Pakistan to deliver drugs will be shot. Our latest war against drugs has left Pakistan baffled. They (drug suppliers from Pakistan) are now not getting sellers who earlier used to pick drugs from the border and deliver them ahead to our children in Punjab.”
The former Delhi CM said 5,000 new Home Guards were being recruited to deploy in border districts of the state. “Three years were spent in full-proof planning by the Mann-led Punjab government and now it’s time to implement those big plans,” he said.
Targeting former SAD and Congress governments, Kejriwal said, “Previously, Punjab politicians sheltered drugs, sand, transport, cable and other mafia just for the sake of their vested interests.”
Targeting former CM Captain Amarinder Singh without taking his name, Kejriwal said, “A former CM from the Congress had even sworn on the Gutka Sahib to eliminate drugs but just for the sake of grabbing power.”
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Kejriwal said the AAP government won’t rest until drugs were completely eliminated from Punjab.
“The kingpin of drugs, and once powerful ministers who were involved in this heinous crime, will also not be spared. They will also be put behind the bars,” said Kejriwal, adding: “Those who turned Rangla Punjab into a drug hub won’t be spared, be it anyone.”