M A I N   N E W S

Curb drug inflow, Badal tells Centre
Gurminder Singh Grewal

Bhaini Sahib (Khanna), Oct 14
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today batted for raising a second line of defence along the border with Pakistan to stop the inflow of drugs into the state.

The Chief Minister was responding to a query on the high incidence of drug addiction in the state at a press conference here today. He flayed Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks that 70 per cent youths in Punjab were hooked to drugs and blamed the Congress for the drug menace in the state.

“It is the Centre’s responsibility to take steps to stop the flow of drugs from across the border. Apart from the BSF and other border-guarding agencies, another line of defence should be raised to check drug inflow,” he said.

Badal wanted stricter steps to check the flow of drugs into the state, including more effective sealing of the border and a ban on growing of poppy husk in Rajasthan.

The Chief Minister was at Bhaini Sahib to inaugurate a 10-bed hospital constructed at a cost of Rs 85 lakh. He also participated in the annual Naam Simran Jap Paryog organised by the Namdhari Sect under Baba Jagjeet Singh.

Addressing a gathering at the dera, Badal lauded the unparalleled contribution of the Namdharis to the freedom struggle. He promised financial help to raise memorials in the memory of Kuka martyrs at some places in the state.

Accusing the Centre of not providing funds to Punjab, the Chief Minister ruled out giving nine subsidised cylinders to consumers in the state, as declared by the Centre in Congress-led states. “It is the Centre’s duty to provide essential facilities to the people of the country as it collects funds from the states. It is showing a bias against Punjab by not giving funds for the development of the state,” he said.

Badal accused the Centre of releasing more funds to Congress-led states. “The states can afford to give three more subsidised LPG cylinders to the consumers, but Punjab cannot due to the fund crunch,” he said.