Mohali-Senior Congress leader and former Health Minister S. Balbir Singh Sidhu today held a special meeting at his office in Mohali with panches, sarpanches, prominent leaders, sitting and former councillors, and party office-bearers from various villages of the Mohali Assembly constituency. The meeting focused on detailed discussions regarding preparations for the massive rally scheduled to be held in Sangrur on November 4 under the leadership of Shri Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader.
During the meeting, expressing serious concern over the continuously rising drug menace in Punjab and the precious lives being lost among the youth, S. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the younger generation of Punjab was falling victim to drugs, while the Aam Aadmi Party government’s claims of making Punjab drug-free were far removed from ground realities. Even those raising their voices against drugs were being forced to pay with their lives. The shooting and killing of Parvinder Singh Jhota was extremely concerning. This incident raises serious questions about the law-and-order situation in the state and the safety of those fighting against drugs.
He said that the Punjab government was merely indulging in publicity campaigns and making statements in the name of its ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign, whereas the drug trade continued unabated. If the government is genuinely serious about eliminating drugs, why is it not taking concrete action to dismantle the entire drug trafficking network and apprehend the influential people operating behind this illegal trade?
Questioning Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sidhu said that although he visits Punjab and talks about making the state drug-free, he should first answer the country about the massive drug consignments seized at ports in Gujarat. Gujarat has a BJP government, and the cases involving large drug consignments seized there raise serious questions about the country’s mechanism for preventing drug trafficking.
He said that drugs are reaching Punjab from other states as well as across the border, and therefore, the Central Government cannot evade its responsibility. Amit Shah should first explain his government’s performance in preventing drug trafficking through Gujarat’s ports before making claims about making Punjab drug-free.
Sidhu said that both the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab and the BJP government at the Centre must take responsibility and ensure accountability on the issue of drugs. The people of Punjab do not want political rhetoric; they want concrete action against drug trafficking networks, a secure future for the youth, and protection for those who raise their voices against drugs.
At the conclusion of the meeting, S. Balbir Singh Sidhu appealed to all Congress leaders and workers to participate in large numbers in the massive rally scheduled to be held in Sangrur on November 4 under the leadership of Shri Rahul Gandhi. He said that the rally would symbolise the Congress Party’s unity and struggle to safeguard people’s rights, democracy and constitutional values. He expressed confidence that the large participation of Congress leaders and workers from Mohali would make the rally a success.
During the meeting, the important responsibility of stage management was undertaken by Harkesh Chand Sharma Machhli Kalan, former Chairman of the Market Committee, Kharar, and senior Congress leader.
The meeting was addressed by former Senior Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Corporation Amrik Singh Somal, senior Congress leader S. Boota Singh Sohana, employee leader Lakha Singh, Thekedar Mohan Singh Bathlana, S. Gurwant Singh Chhina, Jaspreet Singh Gill, President of Block Congress Committee (Urban), Mohali, and employee leader Sucha Singh Kalour.
Among others present on the occasion were Kanwarbir Singh Sidhu, Manjit Kaur, Aman Paswan (both councillors), Pradeep Singh Tangori, President of Block Congress Committee (Rural), Mohali; Minority Department Convener Shri Imran Khan, Happy Malik, Ashok Kondal, Navdeep Singh Navi Sandhu, Lakhwinder Singh Kala (all Mandal Presidents), Mukul Sharma, Youth President of Mohali Assembly Constituency; Jagdish Singh Jagga, Rupinder Kaur Reena, Surinder Rajput, Jasbir Singh Manku, Principal Gurmukh Singh and Master Charan Singh (all former councillors); Manjit Singh Tangori, former Vice Chairman of Block Samiti, Kharar; Jaswinder Sharma, Phase 10; Balbir Singh Ghagga; Gursev Singh Mauli Baidwan; IT Cell In-charge Paramjit Singh Chauhan; Baljinder Lucky; Jaswinder Singh Pappa, former Sarpanch of Gidarpur; Nahar Singh, Sarpanch of Kurdi; Gurdeep Singh Mauli Baidwan; Sarabjit Singh Mauli Baidwan; Parminder Singh Rahil; Rajesh Lakhotra; Malkit Singh Mataur; former Sarpanch Amrik Singh Mataur; Chaudhary Rishi Pal Saneta; former Sarpanch Bhagat Ram Saneta; Preetkamal Saini, Sector 78; Lakhmir Singh Kala Patton; Mukhtiar Singh; Baba Kashmir Singh Jujhar Nagar; Ram Nath Paswan, Chairman of the SC Cell (Rural); Tehal Singh Manakpur Kallar; Sukhwinder Singh, Sarpanch of Mindhe Majra; Jagdish Singh Jhamapur; Gurpreet Singh Jhamapur; Rajinder Parkash Singh Jhamapur; Ranjit Singh Gill Jagatpura; Satish Kumar Amb Sahib Colony; Surinder Behlolpur; Davinder Singh, former Sarpanch of Kurara; Gulzar Singh Kurara; Rajinder Singh, Sector 123; Mamta Sharma, Sector 68; Harbhajan Singh Raipur Kalan; Lakhbir Lucky Behlolpur; Manjit Singh Mote Majra; Sanjeev Kumar Bunty Gobindgarh; Mandeep Singh Kumbra; Dilbag Singh Dhelpur; Jatinder Singh Sodhi, Phase 4; Karamjit Singh Sidhu; Sukhdev Singh Vadaich, Green Enclave; Amritpal Singh Tiwana, Phase 9; Manmohan Singh, Phase 6; Kulwinder Singh Romi, Phase 6; Satwinder Singh Grewal, Phase 6; Mohan Singh Nano Majra; Ravinder Sharma, Phase 7; Harcharan Grewal, Sector 69; Ajmer Singh, former Sarpanch of Daun; Dalwinder Saini Daun; Chaudhary Sispal Hussainpur; Sampuran Singh, Sector 78; Sukhdev Singh Sukha Kandala; Sukhwinder Singh Sunny, Basant Enclave; Prabhjot Singh Jhamapur; Hansraj Mataur; Jagdish Singh Landran; Gurmukh Singh Landran; Master Sukhdev Singh; Davinder Chopra; Sanjay Kaushik; Krishan Sethi; Avtar Singh Landran; Darshan Singh Manana; D.P. Sharma, Phase 1; Sandeep, Phase 1; Pinka Garg, Phase 1; Captain Malkit Singh Manana; Avtar Singh Thaska; Gurjit Singh Papri; Ved Parkash Sharma Sambalki; Labh Singh Sidhu, Sector 80; Major Singh, Sector 80; Master Madan Singh, Phase 3B1; Manmohan Singh, Phase 6; Navneet Tokhi, Phase 3B2; Dalbir Singh Chaumajra; Gurdeep Singh, Sector 77; Darshan Singh Dhaliwal; Jarnail Singh, Sector 79; Manjit Singh Balongi; Babbu Saini Balongi; T.P. Singh Balongi; Sukhwinder Singh Balongi; and Satbir Singh Ballo Majra.
A large number of Congress Party office-bearers, workers, and village panches and sarpanches were also present at the meeting.