Accountability needed for controlling drug menace, says Singla

It is time that we changed the present structure of fighting drug menace and bring greater accountability and seriousness on this issue said Singla and suggested that a new institution be created directly under the supervision of Prime Minister to oversee all activities related to drug abuse. Sangrur MP addressing election gathering said that everybody these days is talking about the issue but no solutions are forthcoming and Akali Govt. is running away from its responsibility by falsely blaming the Central Govt. Singla remarked that there is an urgent need to finish investigations in drug cases within 3 months and set up fast track courts to punish the guilty and all this is very much doable by the present Govt. but the intention and will is missing. Singla remarked that free availability of drugs in the State only points to complicity and involvement of Police and the Punjab Government and it is feared that only a small percentage of drugs caught in Punjab are shown as a seizure.

Singla stated that Government must set up a dedicated Fund to finance drug awareness campaigns and drug de-addiction activities and make this as their first priority which the Govt. has failed to do so far. Till date the Punjab Govt. has shown no sincerity on fighting this evil and there is a need to declare a ‘War on Drugs’ in Punjab if the State has to survive.