The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the Rajasthan government to ban sale of opium as Punjab was suffering due to the Rajasthan government's policy to earn profit from sale of this commodity.In a statement here, senior SAD leaders including Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said it was unfortunate that the Rajasthan government had licensed more than 17,000 opium vends. They said opium, which was available in the open in Rajasthan, was also being smuggled into Punjab. "This is causing social unrest in Punjab and needs to be addressed immediately", they said adding any law which encouraged addiction and even led to smuggling of opium to a neighbouring State should be rescinded immediately.
The SAD leaders also demanded that opium cultivation should also stop in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. They said opium being produced in both States was finding its way into Punjab.Mr Grewal and Dr Cheema also urged the Prime Minister to seal the international border with Pakistan. They said even though drugs were not produced in Punjab, they were entering the State from across the barbed wire fencing with Pakistan. The leaders said since the international border was guarded by the BSF the centre should take steps to stop drug trafficking from across the border. "This matter needs to be looked into and resolved quickly", they added.The leaders said drug trafficking from across the border as well as smuggling of drugs into Punjab from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh could fuel narco terrorism and it was in the country's interest to put a stop to this immediately.