Punjab bearing brunt of its war against drugs: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal

SANGRUR: Terming that Punjab was bearing the brunt of its war against drugs, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the state was being maligned irrespective of the fact that not even a single ounce of drug was produced in it.

Drugs like opium, heroin, smack and others were smuggled in the state from across the border whereas other narcotics like poppy husk were coming to Punjab from states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and others where it was sold openly, the CM claimed on the side lines of an event in Dhuri assembly segment here.

Yesterday he had explained that as "geographically Punjab was in close vicinity of international border and nefarious elements ventured hard to smuggle drugs like heroine freely across this route but their efforts were foiled by the state government's stringent step of breaking the supply line."

Badal further said that "ironically the state's image has been belittled just because Punjab was fighting the war against drugs from the forefront."

"We have suffered earlier as the state fought national war against militancy to protect unity and integrity of the country and now we are being victimized for waging a direct war against drug menace," he said, adding, state security agencies have cracked down heavily on the drug peddlers by nabbing.

Besides, Badal said that a network of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers had been set up in the state to detoxify the drugs addicts on one hand and impart skill training to them on the other so that they could lead their life with dignity and pride.

On its part the state government was doing its best to stamp out this curse from the state but the need of the hour was to intensify vigil on the borders for checking cross border smuggling, he said, requesting for a co-operation from people, saying "It's not only a state's or country's problem but it is a global phenomenon which can be tackled jointly".

"It's not only a state's or country's problem but it is a global phenomenon which can be tackled jointly", he added.