‘Drug money being utilised for terrorism; traffickers will be behind bars within two years’: Shah in LS

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 21 said that the drug menace is a serious problem in the country and the Central Government has a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy towards the issue.

He also claimed that countries promoting terrorism in India use drug money to do so.

“Our government has a zero-tolerance policy towards the issue of drugs. Those countries promoting terrorism in our country are using the profits from drugs for the same. The presence of this dirty money also gradually hollows our economy,” Shah said.

The Union Minister, during the Winter Session, was replying on a discussion in Lok Sabha over the problem of drug abuse in the country and steps taken by Central Government.

“The drug menace is a serious problem which is destroying generations. The profits being made from the drugs are utilised for terrorism as well,” Shah added.

The Union Home Minister alleged that states who are not helping the central agencies are supporting and empowering drug traffickers, adding that the National Investigation Agency has the power to conduct investigation with NCB into any kind of drug trafficking.

“Our government's policy is very clear, those consuming drugs are victims, we should be sensitive towards them and give victims a conducive atmosphere for their rehabilitation. But those involved in drug trafficking should not be spared,” Shah warned.

HM Shah claimed that the Government has mapped the drug network across states and that every criminal, ‘big or small’ will be put behind bars in the next two years.

“We have mapped the drug network across the states. No matter how big the criminal is, in the next two years there'll be a situation that they'll be behind the bars,” he said.

HM Amit Shah raised the issue of giving ‘rights and free hand’ to BSF to seize drugs at borders, saying that politicizing it will promote drug trafficking in the country.

“Borders are the responsibility of the central government, but when we give rights to the BSF, it's said that the rights of states are being taken, now how will the BSF work there? The BSF seizes drugs but doesn't have the right to file a case. Those politicising this issue are promoting drug trafficking.” “Agencies can't work without rights, they have to be given rights. We should show faith in our agencies,” he said in Lok Sabha during the winter session.