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Cong’s Mevani slams govt & police over ‘flourishing drug trade’, BJP says his claims baseless
Mevani demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who also holds the home portfolio. The BJP, however, dismissed Mevani's allegations as “baseless.”
Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani.
STEPPING UP his attack on the BJP government in the state, working president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) and Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani alleged on Saturday that in the past five years, illegal drugs “worth over Rs 64,000 crore” were seized from Gujarat, “transported from the coast in particular.”
Mevani demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who also holds the home portfolio. The BJP, however, dismissed Mevani’s allegations as “baseless.”
Addressing mediapersons in Ahmedabad, Mevani said “In the past five years, the illegal drugs business has flourished in Gujarat, and even drug manufacturing factories are being busted. Drugs are sold near schools, colleges and hostels across Gujarat, unlike in the past.”
Mevani demanded that the Gujarat government convene a special session of the Assembly and release a “white paper against white powder (referring to drugs).”
He said, “The people of Gujarat want to know about the nexus of people involved in such illegal drug business, and who the police officers and officials of the state home department involved are.”
He alleged that this was happening under the watch of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, deputy CM Sanghavi and state police chief (DGP) Vikas Sahay.
Mevani said, “While the people of Gujarat are taking out rallies against drugs and liquor menace and handing memorandum to government officials, the government is busy with the Chintan Shibir at Valsad.”
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He also alleged that action was taken only against low-ranking police personnel while “top officers were spared.”
Reacting to Mevani’s claims later on Saturday, the BJP’s state spokesperson, Dr Yagnesh Dave, said, “The allegations made by the Congress MLA about the Chief Minister, Home Minister and DGP are baseless. If he has evidence, he should make a representation to the appropriate forum, such as the CM, HM, or top police officers. Doing a press conference and making such statements does not suit the stature of an elected MLA. The language he uses is also unacceptable. By publicly making such statements, he is alerting and protecting criminals.”
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