Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on October 1 came out in support of his minister Navjot Singh Sidhu demanding legalization of opium cultivation, sale and consumption.
Singh’s reaction came after Sidhu backed Dharamvir Gandhi, suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader’s demand for legalising opium production for sale and consumption.
Sidhu while supporting Gandhi’s demand said, “Dharamvir Gandhi is doing a very good thing, I support him. My uncle used to take opium as a medicine and lived a long life.”
While extending support to Sidhu, CM Amarinder said, “There has to be a strict drugs policy to impose a ban on these drugs in the country and whatever is required for the pharmaceuticals industry. But letting it being grown by the states, we know how it leaks from the state and comes back through the lucrative market.”
Punjab CM further added, “We have been clamoring for this ever since my last tenure from 2002 to 2007. I took this matter to the Prime Minister, I raised it in the Chief Minister’s conference, saying that India has to have a drugs policy.”
