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Sri Muktsar Sahib, The People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) has demanded immediate introduction of a “Confiscation of Drug Dealers Property Act” to act as a deterrent against drug dealers.
At the historic Maghi Mela at Sri Muktsar Sahib, the PPP led by its President Manpreet Singh Badal took a solemn oath announcing that their party will not associate with people involved in the drug trade in any manner whatsoever.
Manpreet also proposed a two-point formula to combat the drug problem in Punjab.
He said in the first step all politics, all political parties must dissociate themselves from drug dealers and peddlers and take a pledge that they would not distribute or accept intoxicants during electioneering. The people dealing with such trade, directly or indirectly, should not be given tickets. “Once the political clout is over and drug dealers find no political patronage, the police will not hesitate to initiate action against such people,” Manpreet said.
The problem, however, according to him, was that almost all ruling parties had always sought the support of drug dealers to benefit from the riches of drug dealers. The PPP, had stayed away from such peddlers during the 2012 elections, and would continue to do so. However, it was time that other parties also follow the PPP path, Manpreet added.
He also called upon Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to convene an all-party meeting to evolve a concensus against drugs where these political parties must publicly make written commitment against the use of drugs during elections.
The PPP alleged that the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP were themselves responsible for not taking action against those involved in the drug trade. “If the BJP is serious, then why does it only hold rallies but does not withdraw support to the Akali Dal whom the party accuse of being complicit,” the PPP asked.
Manpreet added that since greed and profit were the motives of drug dealers, it was best to crack whip against them by striking at their root motive. A Confiscation of Drug Dealers Property Act should be introduced in the Punjab Assembly, which would confiscate the movable and immovable property of anyone convicted in the drugs trade. Further, this would be extended to any money earned from drugs also so that the families of drug dealers were also included.
The PPP chief added that the Confiscation of Property of Drug Dealers Act was included in the PPP Manifesto that was announced before the 2012 assembly elections. Had people listened to PPP, the situation would not have come to such a stage, he added.
The PPP also outlined another factor, which it said was killing Punjab agriculture. While the global prices of petrol and diesel had gone down by almost 50 per cent, the Union Government was not reducing the petrol and diesel price in right measure. “This is aimed at benefitting oil importing companies, while farmers who use diesel to run their generators for agriculture and farming continue to pay exorbitant prices,” the PPP said. This meant that due to high diesel costs, farm produce would continue to cost more, thereby pauperizing the farmer and harming consumers. “Reduction of petrol and diesel price would also bring down inflation and reduce prices,” Manpreet said.
The PPP also added that they remain committed to their manifesto where they had stated that the party would announce an all-powerful Lok Pal, and a Lok Ayukta at every district level. The Party also reiterated its commitment that the state government should announce one-lakh jobs every year, so that by the end of five years, at least 5 lakh Punjabi youths get employment.
The PPP also sought the immediate release of BT maize varieties in Punjab, along with an announcement of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for it. This would help Punjab break the wheat-paddy cycle and also encourage food-processing industry in the state which was very supportive of maize crop. Manpreet said maize products were among the largest selling products in the United States and Canada, and there was no reason why Punjab should not benefit from this.
