BJP, Akali Dal creating 'needless' controversy, politicising drug menace in Punjab: Congress

With Rahul Gandhi set to undertake a foot march against the rampant drug menace in Punjab, the Congress party on Monday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are creating 'unnecessary' controversy over a relevant issue that needs to be addressed.

Congress leader P.L. Punia said when Gandhi had raised the issue of rising drug problem in Punjab last year, he was criticised, but now the problem has come to the fore. He said every political party now wants to gain political mileage out of the issue.

"Rahul ji will carry out a foot march in protest against rampant drug abuse in Punjab. It was Rahul Gandhi who raised this issue first, but people criticised him, but now it is being discussed by everyone. Even a film has been made on the subject and censor board is posing hurdles. This is an important issue but the BJP and SAD are unnecessarily creating controversy over it," Punia told.

"If the film shows the issue it is good, people will become aware. Rahul ji's initiative should be welcomed," he added.

Rahul Gandhi will lead a protest in Punjab's Jalandhar city on Monday against the drug menace in the state.

Gandhi, who will be accompanied by members of the Congress' Punjab unit, is also expected to highlight the alleged deterioration in the law and order situation 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," Gandhi's office had tweeted earlier on June 10.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has dubbed Gandhi's protest against drugs as ridiculous and alleged that the Congress was adopting double standards as the grand party had failed to initiate any action on the same when the matter was brought to the notice of former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

The Congress vice-president's protest comes at a time when there is an ongoing controversy over certification of Bollywood film 'Udta Punjab', based on the menace of drugs in the state.