Ready to undergo dope test: Captain Amarinder Singh

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said he was ready to undergo the dope test prescribed by him earlier in the day.

"I have no problem taking a dope test. But I would leave it to the conscience of other elected representatives to take a decision on the same," he said in an official statement.

The Chief Minister further opined that keeping in mind the gigantic scale of the drug problem in Punjab, nobody should have any problems in taking such a test.

"Even though no fingers have so far been raised against any politician in the existing regime of the complicity of any kind in drug abuse or trading, if any minister or MLA felt the need to offer to take the test, they are welcome to do so," he added.

Earlier in the day, Singh ordered a mandatory dope test for all government employees, including police personnel, from the time of their recruitment through every stage of their service.

Singh had also directed the chief secretary to work out the modalities and have the necessary notification issued in this regard.

The dope test would be made a mandatory part of the annual medical examination taken of all civilian and police employees of the Punjab government, wherever prescribed.

The move is part of the series of initiatives taken to eliminate drug menace from Punjab.

The orders came on the day when the Punjab Chief Minister formally communicated his Cabinet's recommendation to the Centre, seeking an amendment to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act to provide the death penalty for first-time offenders too.