The remarks of sitting MP and SAD candidate from Faridkot Paramjit Kaur Gulshan on the licensing of poppy husk vends has come in for strong condemnation from the Congress, with former CM Amarinder Singh saying that after spreading the scourge of drug addiction across Punjab, the Akalis were now seeking to legalise the trade. Gulshan had said that licensed poppy husk vends should be opened in Punjab and that she had requested the same to CM Parkash Singh Badal. Poppy husk or “bhukkhi” is sold illegally in the state. During her election campaign, Gulshan said, “I am not in favour of these vends. But senior citizens in the villages have got addicted to poppy husk for the last 50 years. They will get weak and die if they don’t get it. They are only demanding that it should be legalised like in Rajasthan. They cannot be weaned off the addiction.” The Congress reacted to the statements by accusing the Akali Dal of supporting the drug mafia.