Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday lambasted AICC, vice president Rahul Gandhi for shielding former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Ex Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for their failure to act against the spread & growing menace of drugs in Punjab." While Manmohan Singh maintained a stony silence even after being informed by Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Dr. SY Quraishi about the enormity of drug menace in Punjab during the 2012 assembly polls in the state, Capt Amarinder chose to side with Akali Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia by opposing the CBI probe", said AAP MP from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann.Mann said it was startling to know that Quraishi had written a two page letter to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh lamenting the staggering scale of drugs seized during the election campaign in Punjab in 2012. Quraishi had also informed PM Singh that "every conceivable drug is being abused in Punjab".
However instead of taking stern action against the spread of drugs in Punjab Manmohan Singh chose to keep mum on the issue and even kept the two page letter buried under the government files.Rahul who is scheduled to hold a protest demonstration in Jalandhar on June 13, should also explain the conduct of congress MP from Jalandhar, Santokh Singh Chaudhary who was summoned by Enforcement Directorate (ED) and quizzed for more than 5.30 hours for his links with Akali leader Chunni Lal Gabba, a drug smuggler.Gabba a Goraya based Akali leader and businessman has been facing ED probe in connection with the drug trade linking his case with international drug lord Jagdish Bhola. Mann said what action Rahul Gandhi has taken against senior party leader Partap Singh Bajwa whom PPCC, chief Capt Amarinder Singh had termed as a drug smuggler with terror links. " In 2013 Capt Amarinder had written a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi accusing Bajwa of being a drug smuggler with terror links", said Mann.
However instead of acting against Bajwa, Rahul Gandhi awarded him with the Rajya Sabha seat. " Either Capt Amarinder is lying or Rahul Gandhi is promoting tainted leaders in the party", said Mann.Mann also lambasted Rahul Gandhi for taking no action against Capt Amarinder who opposed the CBI probe against Akali minister Bikram Singh Majithia after the latter was summoned by ED in connection with drug smuggling and was also named by Jagdish Bhola in front of the entire media for his drug links. " In fact Capt Amarinder took a complete opposite stand against his own party and stood by Majithia supporting a Punjab Police probe which is controlled by his brother in law and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal", said Mann.With such glaring revelations Rahul Gandhi and his senior party leaders completely stand exposed and have no moral right to hold protest demonstration against the menace of drugs, said Mann.