Among the first things that the Congress chief ministerial candidate in Punjab, Amarinder Singh, has promised to do after he assumes power is to tackle the drug menace by choking the supply of such intoxicants in four weeks. Anybody involved in the drug scourge will be dealt in accordance with law, howsoever powerful he may be. I have said within four weeks we will tackle this drugs problem," Singh told a crowded press conference in Chandigarh on Saturday. The increasing number of drug-abuse cases has been one of the poll planks of both the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The parties alleged that the drug menace and cases of drug abuse had seen a huge increase during the Akali regime under its patronage.

That apart, incidents of sacrilege, which hit several parts of the state, would also be investigated, he said.

Singh said his party had committed itself to providing good governance, besides focusing on health and education.

The Congress manifesto included the waiver of farm loans, a promise the new government will find tough to keep.

A farm debt waiver will have massive financial implications, particularly for an agrarian state like Punjab, and it will impact financial discipline, but given that in the last two years there has been a drought in North India, the new state government should consider such a relief but should keep it limited to small and marginal farmers, that is those who own less than two hectares, PK Joshi, South Asia director, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), told Business Standard.

Sanjeeb Mukherjee

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Punjab poll promises: War on drugs, farm loan waiver - Business Standard