On the issue of recent deaths due to a drug overdose in a few places in the state, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday urged the Congress-led Punjab government to act firmly to curb drug menace and simultaneously create employment opportunities for the youth.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the SAD Member of Parliament Prem Singh Chandumajra said increased incidence of drug addiction and unemployment were creating havoc in society.

He said a latest revelation showing the alleged role of some police officials in pushing our jobless youths into drugs was a very disturbing trend which must be nipped in the bud.

He said, it also revealed the strong connection between unemployment and drug abuse in the state.

“The government needs to adopt a multi-dimensional strategy to eradicate the scourge of drugs as well as unemployment. People from all walks of life are joining hands for the common cause of saving our future generations from the tentacles of drugs. The government should also act in this regard”, Chandumajra added.

SAD MP claimed that one and half year had passed since the Congress government took over the reins of the state, but not even a single job was given to any youth in Punjab.

He alleged that Congress government started playing games by holding fake job fairs and issuing appointment letters to candidates who were actually hired by the companies during the annual placement drive in their professional institutes.

“For few months, Punjabi youth were very hopeful about getting jobs as they were promised by the congress party on the eve of assembly polls but the reality is far away. A jobless person easily gets hooked to drugs and further ends up plunging into the world of crime. This was what happening in Punjab right now”, Chandumajra claimed.

He asked the state government to take exemplary action against police officials found guilty of pushing jobless Punjabi youths into drugs on the pretext of providing them government jobs.

He demanded the action against police officials for providing a safe passage to drug smugglers and abetting their activities across the state.