Sangrur (Punjab): Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has asked political parties to refrain from maligning the state, just days after Union home minister Rajnath Singh asked the state government to fight against drug menace. Following Rajnath's statement, Bharatiya Janta Party vice president Avinash Rai also wrote to the state, asking them to regulate the sale of liquor at vends across the state and restrict its availability and ‘uninhibited’ flow.
“The state is fighting a national battle against this serious problem. I invite all political parties to extend support to the government and not malign the state using propaganda,” Badal said. “Punjab is fighting the nation's war against drugs, yet, a few political parties are maligning the image of the hard-working Punjabi. This is even as Punjab does not even produce any drugs.”
Badal, in town for a sangat darshan programme in Dhuri assembly segment, spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the event. At the sangat darshan event, he announced that a special school would be launched in the Sangrur district to impart quality education to students from the economically weaker category, but who have secured above 80% marks in Class 10 from government schools.
On the rising incidence of farm suicides in the state, Badal again put the ball into the Centre’s court. “The poor plight of farmers is deplorable and unfortunate. Agriculture is no more a remunerative profession. The Central government can easily fix the prices of agricultural inputs and consequently of the crops. Remedial measures from the union government can help farmers get better value for their crop and labour,” he said, adding that a joint committee of the Centre, the state and the farmers was needed to come up with viable and practical solutions to farmers’ woes. “Farmers suicides is a great blot on our society and a solution must be found soon,” he added.
