Page 30 - 31OCT2018E

COLUMN DRUGS

Sidhu’s call to legalise also influential politicians could pat- He added, “India has to have a drug ridors of power is that Sidhu spoke in

policy. You need to have a strict drug
ronise the distribution networks. Time
support of AAP MP Dharamvir Gandhi
opium sparks fresh row and again, many politicians have been policy and ban these drugs. Whatever who had also demanded the legali-
sation of the sale and cultivation of
accused of patronising the drug trade.
is required for the pharma industry,
The controversial statement has
that. But letting it be grown by states,
Sidhu had said, “My uncle used
come when Chief Minister Amarinder the government can have a policy for opium in Punjab.
Singh has made the fight against drugs
we know how it leaks out of states and
to get opium as medicine from the
NEWS & Opposition cries foul as a Punjab minister supports AAP MP from in Punjab a top priority of his govern- into markets which is Punjab.” hospital. It is way better than ‘chitta’
Patiala, Dharamvira Gandhi, for legalising cultivation, sale and con-
Earlier, on July 18, 2018, Singh had
VIEWS sumption of opium and its by-product poppy husk in the state. ment. Naturally, Punjab Chief Minister written a letter to Home Minister Ra- (heroin), due to which parents have to
see bodies of their children.” He also
Amarinder Singh reacted to Sidhu’s
BHARAT HITESHI statements and said that Punjab will jnath Singh and asked the government supported legalising cultivation, sale
not allow them legalisation to hap-
and consumption of opium and its by-
to formulate an effective national
pium is better than hero- found that many people were addicted pen at any cost, as the state had been anti-drug policy with a coordinated product poppy husk in the state.
Hiteshi is an in”! This suggestion came to opium. A household survey of opium engaged in a fight against the drug strategy in place to curb the smug- “I appreciate Gandhi for raising the
independent journalist- from Congress leader use was carried out in three districts of menace. gling of narcotics into Punjab. He had demand of legalising the cultivation of
turned-author and a Navjot Singh Sidhu who Punjab. Of the 1,400 randomly selected also appealed to neighbouring states opium,” said Sidhu, on the sidelines of a
political commentator. has once again courted households, 1,276 were covered by the CM ups ante of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and function organised by the Noble Foun-
The views expressed O controversy and landed study. All members above the age of 15 The Chief Minister said, “It’s time to Rajasthan for help in Punjab’s war dation, an NGO recently. In a rally at
are his own in a soup for his remarks on drugs culti- years were individually interviewed. The have a national drug policy to check against drugs. Muktsar grain market, the suspended
vation in Punjab. survey included 2,064 men and 1,536 drug menace, as I have always main- He even appealed to Union Home AAP MP had advocate legalising poppy
Punjab Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu women. The percentage prevalence tained.” Singh added that he was happy Minister Rajnath Singh to ensure that cultivation. In July this year, Gandhi
has suggested that “opium is better than rate of opium use was 5.76, much higher that the issue of opium cultivation has no safe havens are allowed to drug had even submitted a memorandum
heroin” and that it should be legalised. among men than women. taken center stage again. He also said, peddlers and smugglers in the state. to Union home minister Rajnath Singh
“Opium should be grown in Punjab,” Traditionally, drugs in Punjab come “One state growing drugs like opium Punjab CM even ordered a dope test in this regard.
Sidhu said in presence of the Director from the poppy fields of Afghanistan, to sell in another is not acceptable as for all the government employees and Not only Punjab Chief Minister Capt
General of Police Suresh Arora. cultivated under the patronage of the it’s ruining younger generations. It’s police personnel. The Punjab CM also Amarinder Singh has come out against
Immediately, the Haryana minister Taliban for whom it is a big source of important to resolve this matter once ordered a number of steps to be taken Sidhu for his outburst in support of
Anil Vij demanded to lodge a criminal easy money. According to the United Na- and for all.” for expanding the government’s efforts legalising opium, the Punjab Congress
case against Sidhu for “promoting” drug tions Office on Drugs and Crime, the total to guarantee stringent enforcement of President, Sunil Jhakhar has said in
use. Vij demanded that Punjab Chief area under poppy cultivation in Afghani- • Cure unsure Opium is better than ‘chitta’ the drug laws. a statement: “I am pained to see that
Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh should stan was estimated at 328,000 hectares (heroin) as it is used as medicine, says Sidhu What surprised everyone in cor- even a demand like this is being raised
either order lodge an FIR against his in 2017, a 63 per cent increase over the in Punjab. I can understand a drug
Cabinet colleague or quit as chief min- previous year. addict rooting for opium distribution
ister because he had led the Congress to Potential opium production was esti- centers to be opened in the state but
win the Punjab assembly polls last year mated at 9,000 tons in 2017, an increase here wise, experienced men are also
by making drug malady an election issue. of 87 per cent from 2016. Afghanistan, offering such a regressive recourse to
“Amarinder Singh now should get an however, is not the only source of drugs tackle the drug problem in the state.
FIR registered against Sidhu for publicis- in Punjab. Spurious and cheap drugs are For Punjab, legalising opium would
ing drug use or tender a resignation,” also manufactured locally many times in be like jumping from the frying pan
Vij said. Akali Dal spokesperson Daljeet the garb of pharmaceutical factories. The into the fire.” It is a tough battle to wipe
Cheema said, “Sidhu’s statement is Pakistan border has been the main entry out addiction from the state. We have
enough to prove that the state govern- point of drugs into Punjab. inherited a huge problem but the solu-
ment has failed to curb the menace of About the peddlers, it has been ob- tion does not lie in succumbing to it
Sidhu’s proposal drugs. The chief minister had promised served that the most efficient peddlers but fighting it out.
The suggestion by Punjab Cabinet
has been shot to get rid of the drugs within a month of drugs are drug addicts themselves. Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu only
A drug addict is the last man in the dis-
(of getting elected), now his cabinet
down by Punjab colleague is demanding legalisation of tribution network. Even the policemen shows that politicians have nothing
CM, who seeks poppy cultivation. The chief minister could be part of the distribution network. positive to offer to the youth. Instead
of moving towards a future where the
More than 100 Punjab Police personnel
should explain how poppy cultivation
a national drug and its easy availability would end the have been arrested for smuggling drugs youth are encouraged to lead healthy
policy to clamp addiction.” or abetting the trade since 2014. Of these productive lives, they are being offered
nearly 30 have been arrested in the 15
sedatives. Do we want to make Punjab
down on the On a high months of the Congress government a State of addicts?
that came to power last year in March.
Already a survey on “Pattern and Preva-
drug menace lence of Opium use in rural Punjab” has Not only rogue police personnel but LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
TEHELKA / 31 OCTOBER 2018 30 WWW.TEHELKA.COM TEHELKA / 31 OCTOBER 2018 31 WWW.TEHELKA.COM

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