TN governor insulting state’s anti-drug efforts: Law minister

Madurai: State law minister S Raghupathy has slammed governor R N Ravi for his controversial remarks accusing state police of inaction in seizing synthetic drugs, accusing him of politicizing his office and undermining the state's anti-drug efforts. In a scathing response, Raghupathy highlighted that not only have state authorities arrested 14 BJP functionaries under the NDPS Act, but Tamil Nadu's comprehensive anti-drug operations have made significant strides, unlike previous AIADMK govts. The minister also criticized the governor for ignoring Gujarat's drug trafficking issues, calling his statements ‘unbecoming' of his position.In a statement, Raghupathy said that the governor, who was dragging his feet to grant permission to prosecute former AIADMK ministers booked on gutka charges, is insulting the intense anti-drug drive undertaken by the DMK govt. He pointed out that the drug peddlers arrested by the police turn out to be BJP functionaries too. Across the state, 23 cases have been filed against 14 BJP workers, he said.Stating that Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin is taking strong measures to create a drug-free Tamil Nadu, Raghupathy recalled that the CM had convened a state-level anti-drug conference of district collectors and police officials on Aug 10, 2022, which was the first of its kind in history. "The AIADMK never convened such a conference during its rule. But the governor misuses his office to talk politics and defame the state govt. The consistent efforts taken by the state govt in the last three years have put Tamil Nadu on top of controlling drug smuggling," claimed the minister.Listing out the anti-drug smuggling activities in the state, Raghupathy said that NIB CID cells function in 15 places across the state. They are involved in nabbing people involved in drug production, peddling, and consumption. State NIB CID functions closely with the Narcotic Control Bureau of the Union govt. The state govt also passed a GO to enable NIB CID to work together with the state prohibition and enforcement wing police.All the 1,368 law and order police stations in the state and 100 PEW divisions are empowered to act on drugs. Besides, the 42 Coastal Security Group police stations of the state police, with 24 speed boats, are monitoring the coastal stretch to prevent drug smuggling. The state has achieved a zero ganja cultivation record through these consistent and strict actions by the state police, said the minister.It may be recalled that Ravi, at a function in Sankarankovil in Tenkasi district on Sunday, said that Tamil Nadu police were not seizing even a gram of chemical and synthetic drugs, while the central agencies were seizing hundreds of kilograms of them.
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