Congress questions Kerala govt’s failure to stop drug inflow as party launches state-wide campaign

Kochi: The CPM-led Kerala government has been remaining indifferent even as the drug menace keeps rising in the state, AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal blamed on Saturday. He was inaugurating the walkathon organised by the KPCC as part of its anti-drug campaign in Kochi. 

Venugopal, the Alappuzha MP, promised all support to curb the spread of illegal addictive drugs, even as he questioned the government’s failure to stop the flow of narcotic substances into the state. “The government is unable to resist the inflow of drugs despite finding the trail. There was a time when Punjab was known as the biggest drug market in the country. The governments there led the fight against the issue. Now, Kerala is under the grip of the drug mafia. What’s the government doing about the situation?” Venugopal asked after flagging off the walkathon in front of the JLN stadium at Kaloor.

Addressing the gathering, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the government was creating a situation where even prisoners were getting addictive drugs. Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan alleged that the drug mafia was enjoying the patronage of the government and the ruling party. 

Thousands of Congress activists, including leaders and workers of Youth Congress, KSU, Mahila Congress and other feeder organisations, took part in the march from the stadium to Marine Drive.