Amarinder "dismayed" over Modi`s insincerity in tackling drug menace

Chandigarh: Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday expressed dismay over the Narendra Modi government`s "lack of sincerity" in tackling the "serious issue" of drug abuse in the country.

The Congress leader said that he had written to the Prime Minister on June 30 drawing his attention towards drug addiction problem that is afflicting the youth in most parts of the country and his home state in particular. The former Punjab chief minister, in a statement said, he had urged the PM to initiate measures for formulating a National Drug Policy as the problem of drug peddling and smuggling is interstate, and it is beyond the scope of an individual state to tackle it. Amarinder, however, said he was dismayed and disappointed over the PM`s cold response who merely acknowledged the receipt of the letter without making any mention whether his government was taking any note of it and pursuing any follow up action. He said that Modi`s letter merely said, "I have received your letter of 30 June regarding the problem of drug addiction in Punjab." The Congress leader said, "I appreciate Modi`s courtesy in acknowledging my letter, but it would have been better if he would have said something about whether the issue was being considered by his government." "This only reflects either the government`s lack of understanding of a serious matter or its lack of sincerity and seriousness in tackling the drug menace in the country," he said. "Modi appears to not have much time to consider an issue that is devastatingly threatening an entire generation of Punjabis today and may threaten the entire nation tomorrow," he regretted.