The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday held a demonstration sit-in at Chandigarh on the issue of rising problem of drugs in Punjab. AAP workers assembled at the MLA hostel under the leadership of MP Bhagwant Mann, the leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira, co-president Dr. Balbir Singh and MP Prof. Sadhu Singh. As the protesters started marching towards the residence of CM Capt., the police stopped them on their way. The protesters then sit on dharna and raised slogans against Capt. Amarinder Singh and Congress govt.The AAP leaders accused Capt. Amarinder Singh of siding with Badals and cheating the people of Punjab even after swearing on Sri Gutka Sahib to tame the drug menace in state within 4 weeks of formation of Congress govt. in state. They blamed that due to his friendliness with Badals, Capt. did not act against Akali leaders involved in drug trade in state that resulted in increasing deaths of youngsters due to drugs.The AAP leaders demanded a High Court monitored CBI inquiry in the matter. They also demanded that the govt. must take strict actions against politicians, police officers and drug dealers involved in the drug trade. The party demanded a special session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha on the issue of increasing menace of drugs along with all party meeting at Chandigarh.Addressing the gathering, AAP MP Bhagwant Mann accused Bikram Singh Majitha, former cabinet minister and close relative of former deputy CM Sukhbir Singh for patronizing the drug traders in state and dragging the youth of state in drugs. He said that had the CM Capt. Amarinder Singh fulfilled his pre poll promise of uprooting the drugs in state in 4 weeks, the lives of thousands of innocent youth must have saved. He said that it is disheartening to see that the social organizations are forced to start a campaign against drugs to awake the govt. about such a serious issue that the govt. itself must have taken note of.
Mann said that the functioning of govt. describes that Congress and Akali Dal both are running the govt. in state as alliance partners as no action has been taken against any Akali Dal leader including Bikram Majithia. He also asked Congress MLAs those raised voice against Bikram Majithia to push Capt. Amarinder Singh to take action against his nephew (Majithia).The leader of opposition, Sukhpal Singh Khaira said that Capt. Amarinder Singh has failed drastically to stop drug menace in state. He accused that a few influential police officers close to Capt. Amarinder Singh are part of drug trade in state. He demanded that DGP Suresh Arora, Dinkar Gupra and SSP Rajjit Singh should be immediately removed from their post for their alleged involvement in drug trade.Khaira demanded that High Court monitored CBI inquiry is must in the case and Capt. Amarinder Singh must immediately call an all party meeting at Chandigarh. He also demanded a special session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha on the issue of drugs. Reacting on the march being carried out by Siromani Akali Dal against drugs, Khaira compared it with Talibans holding a peace march against innocent killings. Dr. Balbir Singh while addressing the protesters said that Capt. Amarinder must come back from hills and see how the drugs have ruined the youth of state. He must visit the families those have lost their sons to drugs and talk to them once to know the pain of those parents. He also tell the people of state about his promise of eliminating drugs from state and what has he done so for in the direction.The OSD to CM, Capt. Sandeep Singh Sandhu then reached the dharna spot and received a memorandum of demands from AAP leaders. After consultations, CM Capt. Amarinder Singh agreed to meet the AAP delegation on Tuesday at 2:30 PM. The leadership then called off the dharna and said that next course of action will be decided after the meeting with CM.