Punjab CM reiterates demand for national drug policy

Terms it a global problem, calls for support of stakeholders to fight the menace

Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Saturday reiterated his demand for a national drug policy to tackle the scourge, saying there’s a need for more synergy between the Special Task Force (STF), the police and the Intelligence wing to eliminate drugs from the State. Calling for the support of all stakeholders to fight the menace, which he termed a global problem, the Chief Minister said while the neighbouring States of Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi had agreed to put in place an effective mechanism for tackling drug smuggling, no significant progress had been made. Asserting his government’s zero tolerance to drugs, the Chief Minister attributed the problem to the strong nexus between smugglers, gangsters and terrorists to promote narco-terrorism in the State, as well as Pakistan.