Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 10: State food and civil supplies minister, U T Khader, reacting to a programme launched by BJP to weed out coastal Karnataka of ganja menace,  said that he is not against the movement meant to drive away drugs from the coast. At the same time, he clarified that he is opposed to using this issue for political advantage by raising slogans at a time when election is drawing nearer.

Speaking at Vidhan Soudha on Monday October 9, Khader commented that it is but natural for political parties to suddenly remember such issues and conceive such slogans. "The government's aim is also to rid coastal Karnataka of drugs. Our support will be there for such activities but we are against politicizing the issue," he clarified.

He mentioned that BJP had not thought of launching this drive when it was in power for five years in Karnataka. He added that the issue of drugs is not  confined to coastal area and state alone but that it also is the central government's responsibility to tackle the issue.

The minister wanted to know from the central government as to why inflow of ganja from Kerala and Goa is not being stopped. He questioned the union government whether it is now aware of what is happening in Punjab.