'Police to be given free hand to nab big fish in drug racket'

Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh today said police will be given free hand to nab "big fish" involved in smuggling of drugs if his party is voted back to power in the state in the next assembly elections.
Anyone, howsoever big, found involved in smuggling of drugs would be put behind the bars for destroying a complete generation of the state youth, he said here addressing party workers of Nawnshahr, Banga and Balachaur assembly segments as part of the party's 'Mission 2017' programme.
The former CM said "momentous" efforts, including opening of hundreds of de-addiction centres in Punjab, were required as 78 per cent of the youths of the state were in the grip of drugs.

Singh said his another priority would be to provide separate sports facilities for women in all Punjab villages.
On the demand of Congress workers to end the hiring of employees on contract in government departments, he said his government would abolish this system and employ people on permanent basis.
The Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar also said he will take all steps to revive the property, construction and industrial sectors in the state on assuming power. "Special policies and programme would be formulated to ensure the growth of these sectors," he said.

He criticised ruling Akali Dai for disfranchising 'sehajdharis' from voting in gurudwara polls and said he would assist those who would move the Supreme Court on the issue.

"Everyone born to Sikh parents has a right to vote during the gurdwara poll," he maintained.
He slammed the SAD-BJP government for its alleged failure to open even a single centre for cancer treatment in the state during its nine year rule.