Chandigarh/Amritsar, Oct 13 Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj on Tuesday condemned the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, calling it a huge loss for the ‘Panth’ and Punjab and a “failure” of the state government to curb the drug menace.
Jhota, a crusader against drug abuse and the illegal sale of addictive substances at chemist shops, was shot dead in broad daylight in a busy market in Punjab’s Mansa district on Tuesday.
Police have launched a manhunt for Ashwani Kumar, the medical store owner who allegedly opened fire at Jhota and his companions after becoming enraged over being questioned for selling addictive drugs to an elderly man.
The Jathedar said it was extremely unfortunate that Jhota was snatched away from his parents, children and family forever for his fight against drug traffickers.
The incident has once again brought the seriousness of the drug problem in Punjab into focus, he said in a statement.
Peddlers have become so emboldened that they are openly committing murders, while the government remains asleep, he said.
The Jathedar said traffickers were already destroying Punjab’s youth through intoxicating pills, and have now begun gunning them down.
Gargajj said that during the ‘Miri-Piri Khalsa’ march, which began in July, he met many young people, distressed mothers and families in hundreds of villages across Punjab, who spoke about the severe impact of drugs.
During the march, he realised that the drug network in Punjab was deeply entrenched, with drugs being easily available through home delivery and over the counter at pharmacies, he said.
The Jathedar said that while the government made claims about its anti-drug drive – Yudh Nasheyan Virudh — the reality on the ground was evident.
Gargajj demanded immediate action against Jhota’s killer and all other individuals involved behind the scenes.
He appealed to all Sikh organisations and institutions to extend full support to Jhota’s family.
The Jathedar said he would soon visit Jhota’s family along with Baba Tek Singh, the Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib.
(PTI News)
