Chandigarh, Feb 10: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Tuesday raised concerns regarding the true intent behind the “march against drugs” led by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria. The Congress leader suggested that the initiative appeared less about narcotics and more about facilitating a political reconciliation between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Warring noted that the presence of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal alongside the Governor during the campaign suggested an effort to breathe new life into a struggling political entity. He compared the event to medical intervention for a failing organization, remarking that the march looked like “CPR being done on the dying Shiromani Akali Dal” as the state prepares for future assembly elections.
“My humble question to Hon Punjab Governor Shri Gulab Chand Kataria Ji is whether the march he is leading against drugs is actually a campaign against drugs or an attempt to run the ‘Samjhuta Express’ and prepare ground for forging Akali-BJP alliance in the state,” Warring directly said in a social media post.
The Punjab Congress chief further noted that the responsibility for border security lies with the central government. He questioned whether the Governor had addressed the issue of cross-border smuggling with the Union Home Ministry, especially since the Border Security Force (BSF) jurisdiction was extended to 50 kilometers within Punjab. Warring mentioned that while the current state administration has faced criticism for its performance, the central government must also be held accountable for preventing the influx of drugs from across the international border.
Concluding his critique, Warring mentioned that the imagery of the event spoke volumes about its underlying political message. He noted that the photographs of the Governor and Badal together carried an obvious message that could not be overlooked by the public.
