Ludhiana, October 13
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal today demanded the immediate resignation of chief minister Bhagwant Mann, asserting the drug mafia had become so emboldened under his regime that it was now resorting to day light killing of anti- drug activists.
Addressing a massive gathering of women at Dehlon in Gill constituency along with Halka incharge Harpreet Singh Simak, the Bathinda MP said “the manner in which anti- drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota had been killed proved that the drug mafia did not have any fear of the law. “This is natural when the government starts gunning for those who raise their voice against the drug menace as we have seen in the case of Mohanjit Singh Sheron and Gulzar Singh”. She also cited how five ASI’s had been killed in the last five months even as drug traffickers were released within days by the police and whistle blowers targetted for persecution.
Stating that it was the chief minister’s duty to end the drug menace and that he had promised to do so within four months of the formation of the AAP government, Harsimrat Badal said “forget ending this menace, drug trafficking has taken the shape of an endemic under Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rule”. She also asserted that the killing of Jhota and other events proved that the drug mafia was being sheltered by AAP leaders who were even taking monthlies from them.
Asserting that mothers and daughters were bearing the brunt of this trade, Badal said “the time has come to make these criminals accountable for their acts against humanity”. She urged the women to fill up forms of the Mai Bhago Di Fauj which had been formed by the SAD. “We have started a mass movement against drugs and the women of Punjab are leading this movement”, she asserted. She urged the women to collect all details of the ongoing drug trade along with the names of the traffickers as well as those who provided shelter to them. “Once this is done, when the next SAD government is formed in 2027 this data will be used to end the drug menace once and for all”.
She said the SAD government would form a special task force headed by a women DGP to probe all data recorded by the Mai Bhago Di Fauj members and ensure exemplary punishment to all drug offenders. She also detailed that a rehabilitation programme would also be initiated for drug addicts who would be skilled and given loans to make a new beginning.
Badal also spoke on how the AAP government was indulging in cheap publicity stunts like putting up hoardings of Bhagwant Mann with the tag line of ‘Imandaar CM’. She said if the chief minister had been really honest then the ED would not have uncovered a Rs 10,000 crore scam in GMADA or a multi- crore posting and transfer scam run from his office”. She also related how the chief minister’s wife – Gurpreet Kaur had even negotiated a Rs five crore deal with a serial rapist to set him free from jail.