Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday said that the liquor ban was not feasible in Punjab for multiple reasons. Rather, the former Chief Minister maintained that “sale of liquor is an important source of revenue for the State”. Capt Amarinder was of the view that the consumption of liquor cannot be compared with drugs.
He maintained that banning liquor in Punjab was neither feasible nor practicable. “Even in the States where it has been banned, it has not worked effectively and has led to smuggling and production of illicit liquor,” he added.
Also welcoming the announcement of senior Congress leader Sheila Dikshit as the Chief Ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh, Capt Amarinder said that it was the beginning of the process. “For Punjab, the Chief Ministerial candidate will also be announced soon,” he said.
Capt Amarinder, while interacting with the media on the sidelines of his ‘Halke Vich Captain’ programme, said that it was a welcome development. On being asked why the announcement was delayed for Punjab, PPCC president said that it was a continuous process and just a coincidence that UP was announced ahead of Punjab.
Regarding who can be the Chief Ministerial face of the party in Punjab, Capt Amarinder made it categorically clear that it was the sole discretion and prerogative of the high command.
The former CM, addressing workers meeting and interacting with the people of Malout Assembly segment during his programme, underlined the need for reviving the agriculture in the State saying that it will have an overall impact on economy.
Replying to a question on the sorry plight of the farm labourers, who have been rendered jobless over the failure of agriculture, particularly the cotton crop due to white fly, he said that it was important that the agriculture was provided some sort of stimulus.
In the same context, he said that the Congress Government will introduce a law that will save the land of indebted farmers from being auctioned, and the Congress Government will also help farmers in settling their pending debts from the banks and other sources.
MAXIMUM 12-HR DUTY FOR POlICE
Saying that there was no disagreement within the party over the issue of ‘VIP culture’, Capt Amarinder announced that the police personnel will have a maximum 12 hours of duty during a day and one mandatory weekly off.
“The Congress Government will ensure that the unnecessary VIP security duties of the police are minimised and the police security to undeserving people is withdrawn,” said Capt Amarinder.
Besides, he added that the Congress Government will do away with laying out the routes for VIPs where the police personnel are made to stand on the roads for the full day.
In order to improve the law and order situation in Punjab, policing also needed to be reformed, he added.
RANINDER TO APPEAR BEFORE ED BEFORE lEAVING FOR RIO
Regarding the Enforcement Directorate (ED) notice to his son Raninder Singh, Capt Amarinder said that he would make himself available to the department before leaving for Rio to attend Olympics.
“While on the first date of summoning, he was down with fever and on the second day he was busy with the preparations for the national shooting team for the Olympics,” he defended.
He pointed out that Raninder was the National Rifle Association of India’s president. “India is sending a big contingent of 106 shooters to Rio for participation in the Games and Raninder was busy in facilitating and completing all the formalities,” he said.
He said that before leaving for Rio, where the Olympics are being held, he will make himself available to the ED.