Amid a raging row over film ‘Udta Punjab’, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will lead a dharna in Jalandhar on June 13 to highlight rampant drug abuse and “collapse” of law and order in the State.
“Will join the mass protest in Jalandhar on Monday, 13th June, to highlight rampant drug abuse and collapse of law & order in Punjab,” Mr. Gandhi said on Twitter.
Mr. Gandhi had raised the issue of rampant drug abuse among youths in Punjab way back in 2012 when he was subjected to ridicule and abuse by the SAD-BJP government.
Besides mr. Gandhi, all senior party leaders and workers from the State will take part in the dharna, Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh said, adding eradication of drug misuse from Punjab is the top priority of the Congress.
Two days ago, Mr. Gandhi had made a strong pitch for release of film ‘Udta Punjab’ which focuses on substance abuse, noting that the State has a “crippling drug problem” and censoring the movie would not fix it.
The Congress has alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “covertly ensured” that the film is banned or “at least neutered” to hide the scale of the drug problem in Punjab.
The Congress has been insisting that the BJP is a coalition partner of the Akali Dal and is “equally culpable” for the “inaction” of the Punjab government on the drug menace.
Assembly polls in Punjab are scheduled next year.
Meanwhile, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh on Friday vowed to finish the drug menace in the State and pledged his support to “Udta Punjab” film.
“I will finish the drug menace in the State and expose the double face of Akali Dal government in Punjab,” Capt. Singh said.
He also signed a petition for allowing the screening of the movie in the State.
“Ban on Udta Punjab is yet another example of how Akali-BJP combine has always placed their electoral interest above Punjab,” he said.
“This government has failed on multiple counts to tackle drugs proliferation but instead of correcting it, they sweep it under the carpet,” he alleged.
Drug problem in Punjab is a social issue, a law and order issue not one of “integrity” or “morality” as the government would have one believe, Capt. Singh said.
“They were first afraid of Mr. Gandhi when he raised the issue in 2012 and now they are afraid of being exposed by the movie”, he said.
He said that he had signed the petition to Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for allowing the screening of the movie and wants the truth to come out. PTI
