Punjab Congress chief and former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has said he will clean up drugs from Punjab within four weeks of becoming the chief minister.
Capt Singh reiterated his pledge taken at the time of taking over reigns of Punjab Congress in December 2015 that he would “break the back of narcotics” in Punjab.
“The whole world knows who manufactures, who brings and who sells [narcotics], it’s synthetic white [powder] that’s killing our youth, and it’s manufactured locally.
“Everyone knows it, police knows it but police isn’t allowed to act on it because the Akalis are themselves involved in it,” said Capt Singh.
“We would take very strict action, that’s my promise. They won’t know what has struck them,” he added.
On being questioned about his purported letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi about the alleged involvement of his own party colleague bête noire, Pratap Bajwa, in drugs smuggling, he denied having accused Bajwa of being involved in the narcotics trade. Though he did not deny having written to Sonia Gandhi about this.
“When I was the chief minister, or as the state Congress chief, I keep sending notes to the Congress president on various issues, but I don’t know how someone made this one up.”
He said one coming in power he would end the VVIP culture, beginning with pruning the chief minister’s security.
“One thousand personnel are involved in the chief minister’s security detail, what for? We will send all the policemen back to district police so that the law and order situation can improve. We will also do away with the unnecessary use of vehicles and end the use of red lights and blue lights,” he said.
He dismissed the challenge posed by a credible third alternative in the form of Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab, claiming the AAP is on a downward spiral. He dismissed claims AAP would divide the anti-incumbency votes.
“The AAP itself is getting fragmented. Many people are deserting the party. 2500 workers are joining us in Ludhiana, 800 are joining in Baghapurana. Their own house is in a mess. So, people who will break away from Akali Dal will come to us,” claimed the former chief minister.
He also condemned the incidents stone pelting at Sukhbir Badal's convoy and shoe hurling at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, saying people should vent their anger through their ballots.
