Cong demands CBI probe into spurious drug seizure at Baddi

PCC general secretary Kudeep Rathore on Thursday said the state health department and concerned minister Rajeev Bindal -who also hails from Solan ,should take moral responsibility for the lapse as the unit was functioning under the nose of the health department.

“ Only few years ago a drug controller,Sher Singh was arrested by the vigilance bureau in a bribery case. That shows how strong the business-politician-officer nexus is in the industrial belt”,Rathore said.

Rathore claimed that the Congress had been repeatedly raising the issue of illegal land sales and relaxations given to outsiders by the government. “ The unearthing of the fake drug manufacturing unit is just the tip of the iceberg. We are asking for a thorough probe by an independent agency like the CBI into not only the drug seizure but also section 118 permissions given to some industrialists having dubious backgrounds”,he said.

It is strange that the unit was also supplying drugs to the Punjab veterinary department,where a coalition government of the Akali Dal and BJP is in the power,he added. When contacted,state Health Minister Rajeev Bindal said: “ The raids and follow-up action,including sealing of the unit was done by the state’s health body and drug controller following a tip-off by the revenue intelligence agency. We are going to take the strongest action which may include closure of the unit as per law”.

He rejected Congress charges and said the health officials have been conducting frequent raids at such units.