Deputy CM says action being taken against drug abuse

Patna: The opposition in the legislative assembly on Monday raised the issue of ‘dry drugs’ being consumed by the adolescents and youth.

Responding to the question, deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said action is being taken in the matter and the state govt has constituted a special cell to deal with it.


Choudhary, who is also the home minister, assured the House that the state govt was continuously taking strict action against drug abuse.

He said a special investigation campaign is being conducted in sensitive areas along the border, and a DIG-level officer has been deployed to enhance surveillance there. “Efforts are also being made to curb the illegal drug trade by forming a narcotics cell. The govt stated that immediate action will be taken wherever information about it is received,” he said.

Saharsa MLA I P Gupta said people in the 14-25 age group were consuming drugs in his area and even schools were being targeted by the mafia.

Meanwhile, the use of the word “Bechara” (helpless) to describe former Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party founder Ram Vilas Paswan by an RJD MLA sparked uproar in the assembly. LJP (RV) demanded an apology from the leader of the opposition, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who was not present in the House.

LJP(RV) state president Raju Tiwari called it an insult to their leader. Earlier, his party’s Jamui MP Arun Kumar Bharti also objected to RJD MLA Kumar Sarvjeet’s use of the word for Ram Vilas Paswan.

RJD members strongly protested against Tiwari’s statement. Sarvajeet said they are committed to the ideology of social justice and are raising public issues in the House. He said Tiwari’s statement was inappropriate and demanded its withdrawal.

In another development, the opposition members stormed the well demanding an increase in the reservation limit. In view of the uproar, the Speaker adjourned the House proceedings till lunch break.