File photo: Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal
Just days after its top leader was quizzed by the Enforcement Directorate over a money laundering case in the drugs trade, the Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD has decided to launch an offensive against the Border Security Force, purportedly holding it responsible for the drugs menace in Punjab.
In a major embarrassment to the party, state Revenue Minister and SAD leader Bikram Majithia, who also happens to be the brother-in-law of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, was recently summoned by the ED for questioning in connection in connection with a money laundering case. The agency is investigating the international money transaction link in the multi-crore drugs racket detected by the Punjab Police last year.
Mr Majithia was interrogated for four hours on December 26 by ED officials.
The SAD has now decided to campaign for the eradication of drugs by organising four protest dharnas at the international border on January 5, in order to "pressurise" the Border Security Force to fight the entry of drugs into Punjab, reportedly from Pakistan.
The four dharnas would be held at Attari international border, the Sadki check post at Fazilka, the Hussainiwala international border and the Gurdaspur international border, said SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal.
"Punjab and the nation are suffering from the ill-effects of narco-terrorism due to continuous smuggling of narcotics from Pakistan into Punjab through the international border. The border is guarded by the BSF, which is a central agency, over which we do not have any control. This smuggling must stop and the border with Pakistan must be completely sealed. Only then can we fight a national war against drugs," the SAD President said.
All the dharnas would be 100 per cent peaceful, assured Mr Badal, adding that he would address the protest dharna at Attari.
But former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress leader captain Amarinder Singh claimed that the dharna was aimed at pre-empting the anti-drugs rally being organised by BJP president Amit Shah in Amritsar on January 12.
"Whom are they trying to fool, as they are very much part of the central government under which the BSF falls," he said.