Opium not a substitute for chemical drugs: Punjab sports minister

Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi said Thursday that opium was not a substitute for chemical drugs and wondered why people were asking for legalizing its cultivation.

"Opium does not work in sports... Youngsters may go for a glass of beer but they do not take opium. I do not know why people are asking for growing opium," Sodhi said.

He said, "Opium is not substitute of chemical drugs or 'chitta'."