Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha deplored that the state has become paradise for ganja smuggling during the rule of YS JaganmReddy for the last five years. AP, which is known as Annapurna in the country, has now become a center of ganja and drugs during the YSRCP regime, she said.
In response to the questions of the members of the Legislative Council, the minister said that as many as 1745 ganja addicted youth committed suicide in the state. She said that the state has stood first in the country in the smuggling of ganja and has also set a record in the consumption of ganja. She wondered if ganja was also delivered online in the name of `curry leaf’.
The Home Minister said that ganja has been cultivated in thousands of acres. She lamented that the previous government had weakened the Excise Department in the name of setting up SEB. Anita said that efforts are being made to eliminate drugs including ganja in the state.
She said that a special drive will be organized across the state soon for the eradication of ganja. She warned that strict action will be taken against those who distribute ganja and drugs, including taking measures to prevent the cultivation of ganja. She said that the anti-narcotics task force will be formed soon.
The Home Minister asserted that the NDA coalition government is determined to make Andhra Pradesh a ganja-free and drugs-free state. She assured that steps are being taken to strengthen the excise department.
Meanwhile, assuring that highest priority will be given to maintain law and order, Anitha made it clear that there will be no deliberate attacks political opponents in the state, like the previous regime. She strongly condemned YCP chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s campaign alleging that as many as 36 political murders took place in the state during the last one and half month.
She wondered that Jagan complained about only 31 political murders when he had met the Governor, but on the very next day he said the number was 36 in New Delhi. She challenged that she is ready for a public debate on such alleged murders, if the YCP chief is ready to provide details.