Punjab Cong demands CBI probe into drug racket

Punjab unit of Congress today blocked roads in different parts of the state for two hours demanding a CBI probe into the alleged Rs 6,000 crore synthetic drug racket.

Protesting Congress members accused state Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia of being involved in the drug racket.

Terming the response to 'Chakka jam' as "overwhelming", Bajwa said the protest went off peacefully.

Bajwa, who led the protest at Mohali near here, said the anger of people of Punjab against drug menace was evident from the fact that common people joined the protest at different places.

He expressed concern for the inconvenience caused to commuters and said there was no option left other than coming on roads for forcing Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to order CBI probe.

Bajwa said that the SAD-BJP government was busy in shielding Majithia.

Congress would welcome CBI inquiry into the alleged drug menace during Congress rule from 2002 to 2007, he said.

Bajwa said he had sent a letter to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on January 8 requesting him to order CBI inquiry into the drug scandal so that the powerful people, who are patronising the drug trade in Punjab, could be arrested.

He said that he had failed to understand the real fears in mind of Badal for not ordering CBI inquiry.

Bajwa said if Punjab police had arrested 50 other criminals named by drug smuggler Jagdish Singh Bhola, then why same yard stick was not applied on Majithia.

Several international drug traffickers, including some NRI friends of Badal family, were involved in the drug racket, he said.

Bajwa said Congress would launch indefinite chain hunger strike from January 19 and he will sit on fast on the first day.

He said Congress would intensify the agitation if Chief Minister continued to protect Majithia.

Protests were also witnessed at Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Moga and Jalandhar.

Congress members of Majitha constituency blocked the Amritsar-Jammu National Highway at Talwandi crossing between Kathunangal and Jaintipur village.