After Punjab, It’s Udta Haryana: drug abuse emerges top election issue

Sirsa | Dabwali (Haryana): “I have two promises – development of our city through a proper master plan and freedom from drugs,” said Pradeep Ratusaria, BJP candidate from Sirsa, as he went door-to-door in Kapaas Mandi in Sirsa. The promises may seem odd to some but drug abuse is a potent election issue in Haryana.

And it strikes an instant chord with the people. Sunita Aggarwal, a resident of Sirsa, said: “The problem is acute in the state, especially in districts bordering Punjab and Rajasthan. Nobody stops the drugs and now families are getting destroyed.” This is why Ratusaria says that there has to be action on drugs. “Our chief minister is committed to fighting drug menace but more needs to be done. It is not an urban or a rural issue. It is rampant among even
schoolchildren,” he said.

Just 40 km away, campaigning in Dabwali villages, INLD’s Abhay Singh Chautala too speaks about it. As he addresses a meeting in Sikh- dominated Bada Ghuda village with his alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal, he blamed the Manohar Lal government for allowing drug menace to spread across the state. Promilla, a resident of Chhattariyan village in Dabwali, said: “Drugs are rampant now. I haven’t seen any election till date where candidates are promising action against drugs. This is the first time that candidates are telling us that it is on their minds.

Something needs to be done urgently or our state will go the same way as Punjab. Our youth, our children as young as 14-15 years, are falling prey to it.” How chronic the problem has become is evident from numerous wall writings in villages with phone numbers for rehabilitation centres. Baljeet, a resident of Raghuana village, said: “The main cause is unemployment.

The government has opened up jobs but an MA pass is getting the job of a gardener. It is this that has pushed them towards drugs. They don’t want to work in the fields as agricultural labourers. They sit idle and get into this habit.” In Sirsa and Hissar main city areas, women said they find work in homes and can earn a living but it is relatively tougher in the rural areas. Dera Sacha Sauda followers in Sirsa too flag their concerns. “Drugs have increased. Earlier, the followers would largely get children and youth from Punjab to our Pitaji (Guru Ram Rahim Singh, who is now jailed).

Now it is from all over. We have a rehab centre at the dera where they keep (patients) for a week. The numbers have increased and now even locals from Haryana are getting youths,” said Dera’s Kamala Insa.