Joint efforts needed to eradicate drug smuggling: Sukhbir

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said illegal supply of drugs from Pakistan and Afghanistan poses serious threat and it should be addressed urgently to "save our younger generations".
Participating in a debate on the problem of drugs in the Punjab Assembly, Sukhbir said it was not an issue of a single party and it should be taken up as a joint mission.
Seeking cooperation from the state Congress unit and Leader of the Opposition Sunil Kumar Jakhar, he said a joint delegation comprising MLAs from SAD, BJP and Congress should meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to mount pressure on Centre.

He said Punjab Police have launched a sustained drive against smugglers and registered a record seizure of drugs.
Sukhbir said it was the duty of the Centre to prevent smuggling of drugs through the International Border.
The Deputy Chief Minister urged the Rajasthan government to prevent cross-border smuggling of opium and poppy husk.

Reiterating the SAD-BJP government's resolve to eliminate the menace of drugs from Punjab, he said during the past nine months Punjab Police have registered 11,500 cases and arrested 13,270 persons for indulging in smuggling.
The Punjab Assembly, before adjourning sine die late this evening, passed a resolution asking the Centre to take action to check drug smuggling and to strengthen border security.

During the discussion on the resolution, members of treasury as well as opposition benches, at one point, agreed that there is need to strengthen security on the border.