• Punjab is being defamed -Center should seal international boundaries to control drugs route
• Punjab Police has done commendable job in controlling and confiscating drugs
• SAD against religious conversions
• Reviews works of five NACs in Bathinda with Union Minister Harsimrat Badal

NewZNew (Nathana/Bathinda) : Waging its war against drug smuggling and abuse in the country, the Punjab government has appealed center government to ban cultivation of narcotics like opium, poppy, ganja etc in other states so that drug abuse is put to an end, said the deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal here today.

During his visit to notified area committee Nathana with the Union Minister for Food Processing Industry Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the Deputy CM said that people with vested interests were defaming Punjab in context of drug addiction.

“Country should know that Punjab is a victim of drug abuse. We are rice and wheat producing state unlike states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh that draw huge economic gain of Rs 150 cr to Rs 200 cr by cultivating narcotics. How can a country have two laws that allow cultivation of drugs in one state and foodgrains in another?” questioned the deputy CM.

He added that the drugs were pilfering in from across the borders enrouted from Pakistan and Afghanistan and it was responsibility of centre and Border Security Forces (BSF) to seal these borders like Mexico border with USA.

He said that on its part Punjab Police had done a commendable job confiscating huge hauls of drugs and arresting many kingpins. “We request the BSF to strengthen themselves for impenetrable borders. Center government should install ultra-modern technology and gadgets like CCTV cameras and sensors along with border that do not allow drugs to seep in,” he added.

Mr Badal said that on January 5, the SAD was holding a huge dharna at all the three Punjab state borders including Fazilka, Ferozepur and Attari.

Answering a query he said that the SAD was strongly against religious conversions. “In India all religions have right to prosper and propagate. Religious conversions are a drama that should be stopped,” he said. Responding to a question on SAD-BJP coalition, Mr Badal said that there was no threat to the strong coalition.

The deputy CM Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union Minister Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal today inspected development works of laying drinking water pipes and concrete cement floored roads in notified area committees of Nathana, Rampura, Mandi Kalan, Balianwali and Chauke.

The Deputy Commissioner Bathinda Dr Basant Garg said total Rs 51 cr have been spent in the five NACs. He elaborated that Rs 13 cr has been spent on laying drinking water pipes, while another Rs 38 cr have been spent on laying cement concrete flooring. He added that works regarding same were also going on in the notified area committees of Lehra Mohabbat and Kotshamir.

Prominent among others present included MP Rajya Sabha Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder, cabinet minister Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, SAD district press secretary Mr OP Sharma, SSP Mr Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti, and others.