Bathinda (Punjab) [India], September 21 : BJP MP Tarun Chugh on Monday alleged that drugs, referred to as "chitta", were being sold across Punjab and claimed that people raising their voices against the drug trade were being targeted, while reacting to the incident involving Sangrur youth Jagga Singh consuming poison outside the Deputy Commissioner's office.
Speaking to the Media, Chugh said, "In every street, every market, every neighbourhood, and every village, 'chitta' is being sold. 'Chitta' is being sold like lollipops. If anyone speaks up, they are tortured, beaten, harassed, and forced to commit suicide."
He alleged that whistleblowers who inform the government about the alleged sale of drugs were being targeted and questioned why action was not being taken against those allegedly involved in selling drugs.
"I want to ask Bhagwant Mann: action is being taken against the informants, so why isn't the government doing anything against those from whom the information is coming in and those who are selling drugs?" he said.
Chugh further alleged that Punjab was witnessing incidents involving drugs, gangsters, extortion and murders, and said that grenades had been thrown at police stations and police personnel had been targeted.
“Today, Punjab is facing drugs, gangsters, extortion, and murders happening daily. Someone threw grenades at police stations. Police personnel are being targeted, killed in uniform, and their photos are being put up, or videos are being made and sent. Today in Punjab, law and order has reached its limits, and we condemn it in the strongest terms," he said.
Speaking on the incident, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said the incident reflected the state of affairs in Punjab and alleged that people raising their voices were facing backlash.
CM Saini said, "Some important people from Punjab come and meet me. They share a lot of pain with me. They say, "Where do we go? Where do we complain? If we take our complaints anywhere, the backlash falls on us. In the constituency of Mann Saab ji, a father raised his voice to save his son right in front of the minister, but what humiliation did he face? He was so humiliated that he had to commit suicide. Friends, even today, a father is standing outside the DC office for his son. This happened today. He went and tried to commit suicide right in front of the DC office in Sangrur. This is the state Punjab has come to."
Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu alleged that Jagga Singh had quit drugs two years ago and later made a video after seeing drugs allegedly being sold in villages.
He alleged that Jagga Singh approached the Deputy Commissioner after failing to get justice but was ignored.
Singh said, "Two years ago, this man quit drugs. When he saw drugs were still being sold in every village, he made a video which went viral. At first, the police and the sarpanch teamed up and tried to threaten him for making the video. Even when he deleted the video, they still tried to beat him up. When he didn't get justice, he went to the DC, but even the DC ignored him. So then, right in front of him, he took the drugs inside the Secretariat...All of this is happening because of the Aam Aadmi Party government and the attitude of the police.”
Bittu said that when Union Home Minister Amit Shah visits Punjab on September 30, the BJP would present data regarding alleged drug sales and consumption and hand over a list of IPS officers to him.
“When Amit Shah ji comes here on 30th, we will present all the data before him showing exactly who is selling drugs and how people are consuming them. We will specifically hand over a list of IPS officers to him,” he further added.
In Delhi, Congress General Secretary in charge of Punjab Sachin Pilot said that people raising their voices against drugs were facing attacks and alleged that the government was attempting to suppress such voices.
Speaking to ANI, Pilot said, "If someone raises their voice against drugs, they face such attacks. I believe the government can go to any extent to suppress and conceal these voices. There are two sets of laws in the country, one for ministers and another for the common man. This cannot go on. I feel the government is completely on the back foot regarding the issue of drugs."
Pilot also referred to the Aam Aadmi Party's earlier promise to eliminate the drug menace in Punjab within three months of forming the government.
"The Aam Aadmi Party had promised in Punjab that they would eliminate the drug menace within three months of forming the government. They stand completely exposed. I sense a stir for change in Punjab, and change will happen," he said.
Meanwhile, Sangrur SSP Ravjot Kaur Grewal said that a video of Jagga Singh had surfaced on September 12 in which he allegedly said that he would consume a poisonous substance if action was not taken in his matter about the Panchayat.
She said the Panchayat had stated that Jagga Singh already had nine FIRs registered against him under serious sections, including one for rape. Grewal said the Panchayat used to stop him, suspecting his involvement in "unscrupulous activities", and that there was a dispute between the two parties, following which he filed a complaint.