CHANDIGARH, Punjab—Upcoming Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh has announced to form Special Task Force (STF) to put control over Drug menace in Punjab. He has said that the decision to constitute Special Task Force (STF) will be taken in the first meeting of cabinet.
Elaborating the details of his plan to curb Drug menace in Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh said that all the Drug traders and peddlers will be put behind bars. He also said that a special arrangement will be made to appoint Psychiatrists in the Rehabilitation centres to cure drug addicted youth.
On being asked whether his government will take action against alleged Drug kingpin Bikram Singh Majithia, Captain Amarinder Singh clarified that no guilty would be spared. He also made it sure that there will be no vendetta politics on his government’s behalf.
Commenting on the rookie Aam Aadmi Party’s condition in Punjab polls, Captain Amarinder Singh said that the AAP’s bubble has burst. He further said that there was no wave of the AAP in Punjab and the AAP’s hype was only on social media. He also pointed out the absence of a regional figure in the AAP, adding that it was the reason behind its drubbing in the state polls.
Captain Amarinder Singh further said that he will soon meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking essential release of funds for loan waiving of debt-ridden farmers.
On the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal row, Amarinder said it was important to see the quantum of water available with Punjab. “When Punjab does not have enough water, the question of giving it to other states does not arise,” he said, adding Punjab has 60% of agrarian land with just eight MAF (million acre feet) water, while Haryana with 40% of agriculture land has 12 MAF water.
The very premise of the formation of Haryana in 1966 under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, with its lopsided distribution of water, needed to be challenged, said Amarinder, adding that his government would work on this.
Captain to sworn in as Chief Minister of Punjab on March 16
Captain Amarinder Singh witnessed an emphatic win of Congress in the Punjab assembly polls bagging 77 seats. He will sworn in as a Chief Minister of Punjab on March 16 at Chandigarh. Captain Amarinder Singh himself confirmed the development while interacting with the media earlier today.
On March 12, Captain Amarinder Singh was also unanimously elected as leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) by the newly elected Congress legislators. The CLP leader then staked claim before the Governor of Punjab V.P Singh Badnore to form next government in Punjab.
Meanwhile, speculations are being made that the cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu might be placed as Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab. However, Captain Amarinder Singh has said that the right of appointing Deputy Chief Minister resides with the core leadership of Congress.
Congress legislator Manpreet Badal is likely to sworn in as a Finance Minister of Punjab who had controlled the same ministry in Shiromani Akali Dal led government elected in 2007.
Captain Amarinder Singh has said that the size and members of Cabinet will be decided by the party’s Vice-President Rahul Gandhi. He added that the Cabinet ministers will also sworn in on March 16 along with him.
Congress Says No to SYL Construction
Newly elected Congress legislator from Dera Baba Nanak Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also clarified that the Punjab congress won’t allow construction of SYL-Canal at any cost. He said that the Congress would continue to provide welfare schemes like free electricity and canal water to farmers, wheat and beans on low rates, which were initiated by former SAD-BJP led Punjab government.
Congress’ newly elected MLA from Amritsar (West) Raj Kumar Verka reiterated the Congress’ stance to put control over Drugs in Punjab. He claimed that the Congress had already prepared a strategy to put control over Drug trade in Punjab. He further said that the former SAD-BJP government had indicted Congress activists in fake drug cases.