Congress defaming Punjab over drug addiction: Naqvi

Sangrur, Aug 21: Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday blamed Congress for defaming Punjabi community by "branding" them as "drug addicts."

Congress party is "hatching conspiracies to defame" the Punjabis, the Union Minister said while addressing a function at Longowal, near here.

The same Congress which had earlier labeled the brave community "as terrorists has now branded them as drug addicts," he alleged.

He said that it was unfortunate that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has used his entire might to defame the hard working Punjabi youth by terming them as drug addicts.

Naqvi said that the same Congress that was responsible for operation Blue star and 1984 Sikh riots was now playing the game of defaming the Punjabis through such tantrums.

However, he said that Punjabis would not allow the Congress to succeed in their motives and would give a befitting reply to them.

Taking a dig at Amarinder Singh, the Union Minister said that most of the leaders of Congress Parliamentary Party, comprising of around 40 odd MPs, were not aware of their Deputy leader because the former Chief Minister of Punjab had seldom visited the august house.

"The person who insults the mandate given by the voters by not attending the proceeding of House could never be loyal towards the people of state," he said.

Earlier, Naqvi said that Akali leader late Sant Harchand Singh Longowal sacrificed his life upholding the supreme democratic values.

Naqvi was here to attend a state level function to mark the 30th death anniversary of Akali leader Longowal.

PTI