Badal’s Diatribe on Drugs At Diaspora Meet
*Slow Poisoning Punjab
<http://www.sikhvicharmanch.com/Religiou%20Politics-Slow%20poisining%20in%20Punjab.htm>-The
Agents diverting the attention from the real issues facing Sikhs in India*
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/badal-s-diatribe-on-drugs-at-diaspora-meet/28402.html
*DRUGS-* BADAL'S DIATRIBE ON DRUGS AT DIASPORA MEET
*CM Badal Taking a dig at the neighbouring states, he said: "Rajasthan produces and legalises sale of opium and poppy husk. This finds its way in Punjab. So, I have requested the Centre to ban the sale and cultivation of drugs in neighbouring states too. We are now fighting the nation's battle against the narcotics trade."*
Posted at: Jan 10 2015 2:07AM
PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS
PS Badal, Punjab CM
*Punjab BJP against Sikh prisoners' release*
*Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma said: "We know that the party's stand may be another flashpoint with the SAD, but we have decided to stick to the party chief's decision of not favouring SAD's demand for early release of the 13 Sikh prisoners."*
*On the BJP's "Nasha Mukt Punjab Jan Jagran Yatra", party national secretary Tarun Chugh said there was no plan to invite the SAD leaders*
*Contrary to the SAD, the BJP said drug problem in the state had assumed alarming proportion*
*Ruchika M Khanna*
*Tribune News Service*
*Gandhinagar, January 9, 2015*
*Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ruffled a few feathers on the concluding day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas when he said that he was pained at Punjabis being referred to as "terrorists" and more recently "drug addicts".*
*Addressing a gathering of NRIs and CMs of seven other states, he said Punjab had been at the forefront while fighting the nation's battles against invaders, enemy nations, hunger and terrorism.*
*"We (Punjabis) are the biggest patriots and Punjab's contribution to the country's freedom struggle or to saving the frontiers of the country from enemy nations cannot be played down. But it's sad that earlier our political opponents referred to us as terrorists and now they call us nasheri (drug addicts)," he said. He said: "We have fought not only against the British and the enemies trying to invade India, but also the country's battle against hunger. Punjab, with just 2.5 per cent of the country's total land, contributes 80 per cent of the total food production," he said.*
*Badal appealed to NRIs to invest in Punjab even as Home Minister Rajnath Singh looked on. His statement holds significance especially now when the Punjab politics has clearly steered towards drug menace. With the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) being blamed openly by not just the Opposition but even its long time ally BJP for allegedly aiding and abetting illicit drug trade,
Badal chose to go public in expressing his displeasure with the BJP.*
*The only salvaging situation for the BJP was when Rajnath said: "Badal Sahib, we cannot forget the contribution of Sikhs to the nation." Talking to The Tribune, Badal maintained his stand that drugs were being smuggled into Punjab from across the international border. "No drugs are made in Punjab. These come from Afganistan and other places. We have been pleading that the entry of these drugs into the country should be closed," he said.*
*Taking a dig at the neighbouring states, he said: "Rajasthan produces and legalises sale of opium and poppy husk. This finds its way in Punjab. So, I have requested the Centre to ban the sale and cultivation of drugs in neighbouring states too. We are now fighting the nation's battle against the narcotics trade.*
*"*
*When asked about Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia being questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in the synthetic drug trade, Badal said he could not be pronounced guilty until proven so.*
*I haven't seen Badal's letter: Rajnath*
*Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he was yet to see the letter sent by the Punjab CM seeking release of 13 Sikh militants*
*He said: "As of now I have not seen the letter, have not read its contents. I can comment only after reading it. But, Badal sahib is a seasoned politician and would have well thought out what he wanted to say.*
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