6 March 2014: Three prominent NGOs from Ludhiana have taken up cudgels against the use of money, liquor and drugs to woo voters during elections and have formed a 'Belan (roller pin) Brigade' to deal with such politicians.
Mahatar Sathi Jagriti Manch, Navkiran Women Welfare Association and Punjab Stree Sabha have come together to launch the campaign on International Women's Day, Saturday (March 8), to educate voters about such "illegal offerings," and to appeal to them to vote for the right candidate.
The front has formed an 11-member committee to manage their campaign. The members are also distributing free belans to the common women.
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| 'Belan Brigade' members say they will use their weapons to stop political candidates from indulging in malpractice |
"We will pay door-to-door visits to spread the message. We will use our belans to stop such practices if any complaint of this nature is made to us. We will not tolerate any drug money in the elections," said Anita Sharma, president of Navkiran Women Welfare Association.
She claimed banned contraband like opium, charas, poppy husk and liquor and money were openly used during the Vidhan Sabha elections in the state in 2012.
'Save sons'
The People's Party of Punjab has launched an initiative called the 'Putt Bachao Campaign' (Save sons campaign) to "save the state's youth from the menace of drugs".
"We have launched the campaign to save our state's young men from drugs. Our party is also conducting a survey on drug addiction across the state, which will give us a chance to reach out to victims, listen to them and provide solutions with motivation and de-addiction," Punjab People's Party president Manpreet Badal said.
The Punjab wing of the Aam Aadmi Party has also announced to oppose the use of drugs in the elections.
An international drug cartel was recently busted in Punjab with the kingpin, Jagdish Singh Bhola, revealing that prominent Punjab politicians were involved in the illegal drug trade.