Plan to set up STF along border sent to Centre: Sukhbir

LUDHIANA: Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said a proposal had been sent to the Union government to set up a special task force (STF) for keeping vigil on the borders to stop inflow of the drugs.

“We have sent the proposal to the Centre: Sukhbir said while speaking on the sidelines of a function here. The opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have made drug menace an issue in Punjab ahead of the assembly polls in the state, which are due early next year.

Sukhbir set the tone for the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Punjabi Suba. A book “Dhart Punjab” was also released which chronicles the cultural, economic and social traditions and environment of Punjab. Sukhbir also eulogised the role played by Punjabis in the country’s freedom struggle. He said Punjabi Suba was formed after enormous struggles and sacrifices but even at that time the state was discriminated against allegedly by then Congress government at the Centre. He said despite this, Punjab marched ahead on the road to prosperity, especially under the SAD-BJP government.

Lashing out at Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh, Sukhbir said the opposition leader was misleading people by making “false promises” of waiving farmers’ debt.

He said Amarinder should give an affidavit in the court that he would sell his property, including the Patiala palace, if he fails to waive the debt in case his party comes to power.

Claiming that the Punjab government would continue to fight to get Chandigarh and some Punjabi-specking areas back, he said the Union government should accede to the genuine demand of the Punjabis.