August 13
Shimla: Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Thursday accused the Himachal Pradesh government of failing to curb the growing drug menace, saying the spread of substance abuse was not only destroying families but also contributing to the rise of life-threatening diseases.
In a statement issued from Shimla, Thakur questioned the government over the recent seizure of drugs worth more than ₹6 crore, asking who had ordered the consignment and who was operating the network behind it.
“The recovery of such a huge quantity of drugs from a single person shows the extent to which the drug trade has spread in the state,” he said, adding that the government must identify the supplier and the alleged kingpin behind the network.
Thakur also raised concern over recently reported HIV-related figures, claiming that the number of HIV cases in Himachal Pradesh had increased by around 1.5 times over the past two years. He said the reported increase in cases linked to repeated syringe use was particularly worrying.
He alleged that the government was focusing more on events and awareness walks than on sustained enforcement against drug trafficking. According to Thakur, drug abuse was putting not only users but also their families and the wider community at risk.
“Drug abuse is a curse for Himachal Pradesh. Every life is precious and we cannot allow our youth to become victims of addiction,” Thakur said, urging the government to take stringent action against drug suppliers and those allegedly providing protection to the trade.
He said the BJP would support strict measures against the drug menace and appealed to young people to stay away from drugs and encourage others to do the same.
“Only collective public participation, along with firm government action, can eliminate the drug menace from the state,” he said.
