Misgovernance by previous CMs to blame for problem of drugs: Sond

It was due to the alleged misgovernance of the previous regimes that the state is facing the problems of drugs, depletion of water resources and exodus of youths abroad.

This was stated by Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond while addressing a meeting of the district-level village defence committee at Sirhind today. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Sona Thind, SSP Subham Aggarwal, Fatehgarh Sahib MLA Lakhbir Singh Rai, Bassi Pathana MLA Rupinder Singh Happy, Amloh MLA Garry Warring and members of the committee.

The minister said now, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the state was witnessing a turnaround. “We have resolved to make Punjab drug-free and not allow its rich water resources to flow out of the state,” Sond said. He alleged that the previous CMs took false pledges in the name of Gurus to eradicate drug menace but did nothing and constructed canals to take water to their fields in Haryana and looted resources of the state.

He said earlier, education and health services in the state were among the worst. The students didn’t get books and uniforms in time and there was no proper infrastructure. “Now, the education sector has been totally changed. The students get books and uniforms in time and the infrastructure was better than private schools. Similarly, in the health sector, patients get all types of facilities free of cost,” he said.

He administered the oath to the members of the village defence committees to eradicate drugs and motivated them to work hard. He lauded gram panchayats that passed resolutions against drugs. He said the addicts should be treated and peddlers sent behind bars.