Reminding the Congress Government of its pre-poll promises, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday told Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh that the “four weeks” countdown to ban drugs in the State “starts from today”.
At the same time, the party also reminded Capt Amarinder that he and his ministers should avoid to adopt “VIP culture” and use of red beacon on their official vehicles as was promised in its poll manifesto.
Senior AAP leader and leader of Opposition in Punjab assembly, Advocate HS Phoolka reminded Capt Amarinder about the oath, which he took at Bathinda while holding “gutka sahib” in his hands to assure ban of drugs in Punjab “within four weeks of coming into power”. “The countdown for the task starts today for the Chief Minister,” he said.
Phoolka said: “I am sure that Capt Amarinder Singh will fulfil his promise and curb the drug supply in Punjab by April 16, 30 days, the date by which all drug paddlers in Punjab will be sent behind bars.”
Even AAP would co-operate the Chief Minister to make ‘drug-free Punjab’ within a month, Phoolka said adding that everybody in Punjab knows who were behind the drug supplies in Punjab and now Capt Amarinder should dare to take action against the “identified” and “unidentified” drug lords of Punjab.
AAP leader also appealed to the Chief Minister that he should also ensure appropriate arrangement of staff and medicines in the drug de-addition centres of Punjab to rehabilitate the drug victim youth of State.
Regarding another poll promise, Phoolka said: “People of Punjab were suffering due to VIP culture adopted by the high-headed SAD-BJP leaders and now the time is ripe that Congress should fulfil its first promise of curbing the VIP culture and use of red beacon atop of their official or private vehicles.”
He added that it was the duty and responsibility of Chief Minister to ensure adoption of the austerity measures to curtail the burden on the State exchequer, which is already under financial “crunch”.
Phoolka ensured that no AAP leader and MlA would adopt the VIP culture and use red beacon on their vehicles and even claim that only necessary perks, which would be must to perform their duties towards people of Punjab.