Jasleen Kour
Former Chief Minister and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said that drug trafficking has become a money-minting business from some black sheep in the administration.
“I can not say that all cops are involved in this business but one thing is clear without the support of the police drug traffickers could not run this illegal business”, Mehbooba said while speaking to Gulistan TV on a special campaign against drug addiction in Jammu and Kashmir.
“How huge quantity of drug is reaching Jammu and Kashmir?”, she asked and pointed out the involvement of some black sheep in the administration in facilitating drug lords active in the Union Territory.
Emphasizing the need to create awareness against this menace, Mehbooba Mufti said that it is not only an addiction but a serious disease that has to be treated like other diseases.
“First of all, we have to remove the taboo. Instead of outcasting those who became addicts of the drugs we have to extend our hands to support them so that they can be treated with love and affection”, she said.
Appreciating Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for taking effective steps to eradicate this menace, Mehbooba Mufti appealed to all religious leaders to create awareness among the society against drug addiction.
PDP president said cadre of her party would educate the people about this menace because drug addiction has emerged as the biggest issue in Jammu and Kashmir.
Important to mention here that as per a survey conducted by an NGO last year, Jammu and Kashmir has 6 lakh people affected by drug-related issues which is approximately 4.6% population of the Union territory of which 90% of users are from 17-33 age group.
Jammu and Kashmir is situated in close vicinity to the Golden Crescent which produces 80 percent of the world’s opium and is considered as the prime source of the illicit drug trade.
