Cong leaders demand Prez rule in Punjab

Congress today demanded imposition of President's rule in Punjab alleging total failure of police machinery and involvement of senior state ministers and cops in the multi crore drug racket.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Chief Partap Singh Bajwa along with other senior party leaders met Governor Shiv Raj Patil and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention.
They claimed to have apprised the Governor of the "details of exposures" made by a dismissed Deputy Superintendent of Police Jagdish Bhola about the drug racket.
"With regard to total failure of the Government of Punjab and the state police machinery, we seek your kind intervention in this matter," the memorandum said.

Bajwa noted that the drug addiction and trafficking in Punjab has assumed an "unimaginable proportion".
"There is a complete breakdown of the state machinery as the caretakers of the state are themselves involved in perpetrating such heinous crimes. It is clear the state police will not conduct the investigation in a transparent and clear manner," the memorandum said.

Demanding a CBI inquiry, Bajwa said the racket is spread across several states and international elements are also involved which poses a threat to national security.
Meanwhile, Congress workers for the third consecutive day held demonstrations and burnt effigies of Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia at several places in the state today in protest against his alleged involvement in the drug racket.

They demanded a CBI probe in the matter and dismissal of Majithia from Cabinet.