Bigger the failure of ‘War on Drugs’, larger is the ‘cover up’ said Dr Dharamvira Gandhi Member of Parliament from Patiala...

Bigger the failure of ‘War on Drugs’, larger is the ‘cover up’ said Dr Dharamvira Gandhi Member of Parliament from Patiala of the reports of Captain Amarinder Singh Chief Minister Punjab joining three other Chief Ministers of Northern states in Regional Conference touted as a ‘New Initiative’ on war on Drugs.  “First, come clean on why you have failed in your promise to people of Punjab to finish Drug Mafia in four weeks, before demanding more powers to police and shoot at sight orders for BSF.” demanded Dr Gandhi.

“When incidents of police officials using their powers under NDPS Act to blackmail and extort money has come to light on what grounds Chief Minister is seeking to empower police more and to what intent?” he asked. “Contrarily the need of the hour is to decriminalize Punjab police by ridding it of all criminal elements and depoliticize it by constitutional, legal and administrative provisions in the light of Supreme Court directions such that it becomes a professional force rather than a force that harasses and loots people.”

Member Parliament from Patiala challenged the Chief Minister to “First, bring before the people of Punjab a white paper on NDPS Act and growing Drug menace so that the people are able to make out the havoc played by this avowedly moral but practically an immoral Act on the people of Punjab in the last 33 years of its play.”  “This Act has made drug user a criminal and given police such vast powers in an area which essentially belongs to healthcare, that over decades the police force has been corrupted and criminalized.” he added.

Captain Amarinder Singh

Dr Gandhi further added “The need for a white paper is all the most urgent as NDPS Act has brought on the involvement of political class, who helps in covering up this racket and has become a beneficiary of this illegal trade.” He reminded the Chief Minister of his pre-poll promises and called upon him that “The time has come to uncover this shady affair”. Dr Dharam vira citing the reports of poorly manned and poorly run de-addiction centres in the press today, reminded him of the failure of de-addiction efforts of the government.

“The unofficial success rate of de-addiction in the state is reported to less than measly 5 percent and the drug users are left to die or kill themselves. “Therefore Punjab Government publishes a report on the working of its much touted de-addiction effort.” He demanded. Dr Dharamvira pleaded with the Chief Minister,” The daily death reports from across Punjab give out a cry for humanitarian approach. Immediate steps should be taken to replace the current de-addiction policy of substitute therapy with synthetic opioids and instead adopt a policy of liberalizing Apheem and Bhukki which will act as natural intoxicants, less harmful and a cheap alternative after registering all drug users.”