Some forces playing politics on drug issue: Sukhbir

Jalandhar, January 26

Asserting that "Punjab is not a den of drugs", Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday said some forces were deliberately dubbing the state and its people as "drug addicts" to gain political mileage.

"Punjab is not a den of drugs and the state is fighting the country's war against drugs, which will be taken to its logical end soon. Some forces are out to play politics on the issue of drugs by resorting to false propaganda for their selfish political interests," Sukhbir said after hoisting the national flag here to mark the 66th Republic Day.

Stating that the malicious campaign was harming the hard-earned image of "brave Punjab and Punjabis", he gave a clarion call to parents, social, religious organisations and the common masses to join hands with the Punjab government in its war against drugs.

Sukhbir said with the active participation of Punjabis, this war would become a social movement.

Claiming that Punjab has turned power surplus, the deputy chief minister said the dream envisioned by the SAD-BJP government in 2007 has been converted into reality.

He said Punjab is also going to become the first state in the country to introduce 4G-connectivity in urban as well as rural areas. "By December, 4G connectivity will be made operational at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore," he said.

Sukhbir said all major cities in the state would be connected with 4/6-lane road network in the coming two years.

The Centre has approved road projects worth Rs 18,000 crore, which has been announced recently by Union Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari during his recent visit to Punjab, he said.

Work for all these road projects will start in full swing in the coming months, he added.

Sukhbir said Punjab was also taking a giant leap in air connectivity as SAS Nagar international airport is all set to become fully operational by June.

Exhorting parents to encourage their wards to take up sports, the deputy chief minister, who also holds sports portfolio, said the government has fixed a target for maximum participation of Punjabi sports persons in Indian squad for Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

He said a Punjab Institute of Sports had been set up at Mohali to realise the dream of the Punjab government, where budding sports stars would be provided world class training, infrastructure, diet and other facilities.

Reiterating resolve of the state to revamp the irrigation system to help farmers, Badal said Punjab has submitted a detailed plan to the Centre in this regard.

He said Punjab has sought a special package for this purpose and promised that irrigation channels of Punjab would witness massive transformation in next two years.

Announcing that all offices at district level and headquarters would be computerised and interlinked with fibre network, Sukhbir said within the next six months these operations would be completed. PTI