On the eve of New Year, the Shiromani Akali Dal today took 'complete elimination' of drugs from Punjab as a Mission with Party President and Deputy Cheif Minister Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal advocated the need to seal the international borders completely like US-Mexico borders.Presiding over a meeting of party office bearers from Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Nawan Shahr, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala to chalk out the program of Dharna to be organised at Attari border on January 5, the Party President said wiping out drugs should be our top mission in the New-year. He said it was unfortunate that despite seizing record narcotics Punjab was being defamed as a den of drugs. "We want to bring truth before the country that Punjab is not cultivating or producing any drugs and these are being produced in Afghanistan, Pakistan and some other states of our own country". Badal said the cross border inflow of drugs should be dealt strictly by completely plugging the international borders.
"Our borders should be sealed like United States has done with its border with Mexico to plug the inflow of drugs", said S. Badal adding international borders should be equipped with ultra modern gadgets to get rid of this menace. He said Punjab led the country in contributing to Paddy and Wheat in national food kitty but nowadays it had been ranked top in drugs, which was totally wrong and unreal. S. Badal said SAD was sticking to its agenda of purging drugs from the state and it would continue to do this.Meanwhile interacting with media persons after the meeting, S. Badal said the sole purpose of SAD for holding dharnas on borders was to highlight gravity of the issue on international level besides introducing an awareness campaign against drugs and its impact. He said this move of SAD was against Pakistan and Afghanistan the main sources of drugs smuggled to India.
Answering a query S. Badal said Center should apply ultra modern and hi-tech gadgets including CCTVs and sensors to spot the inflow of drugs like US had introduced at its Mexican border. He said it is the high time to strengthen BSF besides making it more vigilant.On the issue of BSF competency, S. Badal said this force was very much competent to plug the flow of drugs and SAD had no suspicion or accusation against it but it should increase its surveillance. He said the international border should be equipped with CCTVs cameras, sensors liberally by using ultra modern technologies. Earlier addressing party leaders S. Badal said SAD ministers, MLAs and other leaders would participate the dharna in full strength by using their private capacity. He also gave a clarion call to all countrymen to make everyone aware of bad impact of drugs and come forward for nasha mukt Bharat.
Prominent amongst those present in the meeting Member Parliament S.Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, S. Ajit Singh Kohar, S. Gulzar Singh Ranike, S. Bikram Singh Majithia, S. Sohan Singh Thandal, S. Daljit Singh Cheema, Sh Pawan Kumar Tinu, S. Pargat Singh, S. Inderbir Singh Bolaria, S. Virsa Singh Valtoha, S. Harmeet Singh Sandhu, S. Amarpal Singh Boni Ajnala, S. Des Raj Dhugga, S. Gurbachan Singh Babbehali, S. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, S. Manjit Singh Manna, S. Baljit Singh Jalal Usma, S. Rajmohinder Singh Majitha, Jathedar Sucha Singh Langah, Jathedar Sewa Singh Sekhwan, S. Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal and Gurpartap Singh Khushalpur, Ravikaran Singh Kahlon and S. Upkar Singh Sandhu.