Punjab is victim of ‘narcoterrorism’, says Deputy CM

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the state was a victim of “narcoterrorism” and appealed the political parties to join

the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP’s war against drugs instead of “politicising” this issue.

The SAD president’s statement has come days before BJP chief Amit Shah is to launch a campaign against drugs in the state.

“Not even a gram of any drug is produced in Punjab and it is either coming from across the border or from neighbouring states,” Badal asserted.

He said that drugs make their way into India from across the border.

“Instead of supporting the Punjab government (on drug issue), some political parties are politicising the issue,” he said in a release here.

Badal said that Punjab is fighting a war against drugs for not only saving the youth of the state, but youth of entire country.

“Drugs smuggled into Punjab from Pakistan or Afghanistan are not meant for Punjab only, but they are meant for supply in other parts of the country as well as other countries too.

“If Punjab Police busts any gang involved in smuggling of drugs or if drugs are confiscated, rest of the nation should thank us,” he stated.

Commenting on awareness programmes of SAD about drugs, he said, “a serious conspiracy has been hatched to defame Punjab on drug issue” and demanded that there was a great need to ensure greater vigilance at the international border to stop inflow of drugs in the state.

Besides, he said there was need to impose complete ban on cultivation and sale of opium and poppy husk in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and other states.

With Amit Shah scheduled to start his party’s campaign against drugs from Amritsar on January 22, Badal said every political party has its way of working and said that if invited, he would visit the rallies of SAD’s ally too.

The SAD leader said that some states “involved in legal sale of drugs even mention it as ‘income’ in their annual budgets, which is sad. There cannot be two set of laws for two states in the same country.”

Badal was here to attend a function organised by Independent councillor Kamaljit Singh Karwal, who joined the party today.

He also announced that Ludhiana will have modern Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) very soon in place of Ludhiana Metro Rail project.

He said that after consultation with international experts, the Punjab government has now decided to introduce BRTS in place of Metro Rail.

He also said that some other states have also shelved the Metro Rail projects and have adopted BRTS.