Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday accused Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi of branding the youth of the state as "drug addicts" by "distorting" facts, citing an AIIMS study which says only 0.06% of its population was found abusing drugs.
"A recently conducted AIIMS (New Delhi) study has shown the mirror to the anti-Punjab forces indulging in defaming the state by declaring 70 per cent of the youth as drug addicts. "The study shows that out of the 2.77 crore population of the state, only 0.06 per cent was found abusing drugs, which is the lowest percentage across the nation," he said.
The SAD chief said an "anti-Punjab" campaign was launched by Gandhi who "branded the youth of the state as drug addicts by distorting facts". He also demanded that the Centre reimburse the state the money spent on the operation carried out by the security forces against the terrorists who attacked the Pathankot airbase, saying "the matter of defence of the Indian territory falls within the ambit of the Union government and therefore, it should bear the expenses".
