Rahul Gandhi to lead protest against drug menace in Punjab

Amid a raging row over film ‘Udta Punjab’, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will lead a dharna in Jalandhar on June 13 to highlight rampant drug abuse and “collapse” of law and order 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 said on Twitter.

Gandhi had raised the issue of rampant drug abuse among youths in Punjab way back in 2012 when he was subjected to ridicule and abuse by the SAD-BJP government.

Besides Gandhi, all senior party leaders and workers from the state will take part in the dharna, Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh said, adding eradication of drug misuse from Punjab is the top priority of Congress.

Two days ago, Gandhi had made a strong pitch for release of film ‘Udta Punjab’ which focuses on substance abuse, noting that the state has a “crippling drug problem” and censoring the movie would not fix it.

Congress has alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “covertly ensured” that the film is banned or “at least neutered” to hide the scale of the drug problem in Punjab.

Congress has been insisting that BJP is a coalition partner of Akali Dal and is “equally culpable” for the “inaction” of the Punjab government on the drug menace.

Assembly polls in Punjab are scheduled next year.