Ferozepur, March 6: Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today sought the enactment of a law to award death penalty to drug dealers in the state, citing the stringent legislation in certain Western and Gulf countries.Sidhu claimed that the drug trade had spread its tentacles alarmingly during the Akali-BJP rule as several of their leaders were patronising the cartel.
The minister said the Congress had implemented a multi-pronged strategy, including setting up the Special Task Force (STF), which had curbed the drug menace to a considerable extent.
He was here to lay the foundation stones of development projects in Zira subdivision. He was accompanied by Congress MLAs Parminder Singh Pinki, Harjot Kamal, Kulbir Zira and Darshan Brar, besides former minister Inderjit Singh Zira and other party leaders.
Addressing a thanksgiving rally organised by Kulbir Zira, Sidhu announced funds to the tune of Rs 5.97 crore for the Municipal Councils in Makhu and Zira and the Mallanwala Nagar Panchayat.
Sidhu said the Congress had brought an end to insurgency in the state, but the Akalis had unleashed economic terrorism during their 10-year rule by grabbing all major businesses, leaving the industry in the red.
“Many industrialists shifted base due to the highhandedness of the Akalis,” he added. Challenging SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal to an open debate with him, Sidhu said wherever the former would organise a “pol khol” rally, he would hold a parallel show.
“They (Akalis) have lost repeatedly after a debacle in the Assembly elections,” said Sidhu.
Spelling out his plans for the Local Government Department, he said, “We are going in for large-scale recruitment, including that of Executive Officers, to overcome staff shortage.”He also laid the foundation stones of Moti Bagh and a taxi stand in Zira.
Source Tribune India
