Taking a strong exception to the statements issued by opposition parties on the drug menace, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said that the state was already fighting a national battle against this serious problem and thus exhorted all the political parties instead of indulging in false propaganda to malign the state they should rather join hands to extend all support and cooperation to the state government at this crucial juncture.Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of his Sangant Darshan program in Dhuri Assembly Segment, Mr. Badal said that Punjab alone was fighting the nation’s war against drugs despite the fact that it was now a cosmopolitan problem across the globe. The worst part of the story, Mr. Badal lamented that few political parties brushing aside the ground realities were bent upon to malign the hard working Punjabis through this malicious campaign. He categorically said that none of any drug was produced in Punjab rather tough posture adopted by the state government against drug traffickers was painted in a wrong perspective. Mr. Badal said that geographically Punjab was in closed vicinity of international border and the neighbouring countries along with it ventured hard to smuggle drugs like Heroine freely across this route through Punjab but their nefarious efforts were badly foiled by the state government through initiating stringent steps to break this supply line. He further said that even the synthetic drugs were not at all prepared in our state but when our state took on these bad elements sternly, unfortunately the opposition parties started maligning us.
Referring to the steps taken by the state government for the rehabilitation of the drug addicts, the Chief Minister said that our government was setting up drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in every district so as to enable the drug addicts to lead a happy life with respect and dignity after having been detoxified. He mentioned that such rehabilitation centres for drug addicts would be inaugurated at Hoshiarpur on June 26. Showing deep concern over the high incidence of farm suicides in the recent past across the state, the Chief Minister said that it was really a deplorable and unfortunate situation because the agriculture was no more a remunerative occupation. He opined that the problems and issues related to it must be addressed on the top most priority as agriculture was the backbone of the Indian economy. He pointed out that the fixation of the prices of agriculture inputs and crops were within the control of Center and it should immediately take remedial measures to ensure better remunerative prices to the farmers especially in the wake of narrowing down the margins of profit day by day. Mr. Badal suggested that a joint committee comprising; Center, State and Farmers should come forward to find out a viable solution to resolve these issues for ensuring security to the farmers as the as the unhealthy prevailing trend of committing suicides by the farmers was very pathetic.
Asked to comment on the status of development projects in Sangrur city, the Chief Minister said that the state government had already fulfilled the demand of the local residents to construct new bus stand by laying its foundation stone and the PRTC would begin its construction work within next 10 days.
He also announced to open a special school in Sangrur district to impart quality education to the intelligent but economically poor students free of cost, who secured 80% or above marks in the Class 10th from the government schools. He said such schools have already been opened in Mohali, Amritsar, Patiala, Bathinda, Jalandhar and Ludhiana and the upcoming school at Sangrur would also be established on the similar lines. Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included SAD Secretary General Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Cabinet Minister Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, MLA Dhuri Mr. Gobind Singh Longowal, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. K.J.S Cheema and Deputy Commissioner Sangrur Mr. Arshdeep Singh Thind.