Amarinder Singh (file photo)
After accusing them of spreading the scourge of drug addiction across Punjab, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today alleged that ruling Akalis were now seeking to "legalise" this trade.
"The Akalis think it will be a great money-making business without caring that this will destroy the entire generation of Punjabi youth," Mr Singh, the Congress candidate for the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, who is locked in a keen tussle with BJP's senior leader Arun Jaitley, said.
Mr Singh addressed a series of public meetings in villages - Bachhiwind, Lopoke and Ohian in Raja Sansi assembly segment of Amritsar, as part of his campaign.
Mr Singh referred to the recent reported statement of senior Akali leader and Faridkot MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan in which she had allegedly said that she along with several Akali MLAs had met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal demanding that the 'bhukki' (poppy husk) trade be legalised in Punjab and licences be issued for the same.
"This has only vindicated my and my party's stand that the drug trade is being run under the nose of the Akalis. Now an Akali MP has confirmed it herself," he alleged, while condemning such thinking "which will only be a step towards devastation of the social fabric of the state."
He warned that Congress will not allow this to happen come what may.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued at Amritsar today, Mr Singh ridiculed the charges levelled against him by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal that he was involved in drug trafficking.
Sukhbir Singh Badal had yesterday said in Patiala that Mr Singh was involved in Operation Bluestar and drug menace.
"I am surprised over the allegations he has been levelling against me about drug trafficking," Mr Singh said.
"He (Sukhbir) is the State's Home Minister and he should take action rather than level allegations against me as Home Ministers don't level allegations. They are supposed to take action," Mr Singh said launching a counter offencive on Mr Badal.
About Mr Badal's allegations on Operation Bluestar, Mr Singh remarked, that It was a well-known fact that the then Congress government took the decision to launch Operation Bluestar, adding "I opposed that decision then and I oppose it even now."
"But what about your (Sukhbir) father Parkash Singh Badal who gave his consent to the Operation during his meeting with the then Union Home Minister P V Narsimha Rao", he said.
Till now, he added, Mr Badal had not clarified his position on it.