Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 3 to discuss the use of drones in smuggling narcotics and weapons across borders and to urge the allocation of additional funds for combating this threat.
Concerned, he said that this flow of narcotics and weapons from over the border must be monitored, which requires the help of the Union administration. Bhagwant Mann sought the intervention of the Union Home Minister to combat this challenge effectively. Also, the Chief Minister requested that Amit Shah increase funding for modernising the state police force to tackle the emerging threats adequately. He said the need of the hour is to provide ultra-modern gadgets and weapons to the state force to check cross-border infiltration and drone attacks across the border. Bhagwant Mann said that this is most important for preserving the country’s unity, integrity and sovereignty.
The Chief Minister stressed the need for improved cooperation between the Union and the state governments to confront this cross-border problem during his 40-minute discussion with Amit Shah. He said that it is the need of the hour to strengthen security on the border in the larger interest of the nation. Bhagwant Mann said that Pakistan’s support for the drug cartel is potentially catastrophic to the country’s unity and integrity.
The Chief Minister also had a detailed discussion with Amit Shah on the gangsters nabbed by Punjab. He apprised the Union Home Minister that the state government is adopting a zero-tolerance policy against the gangsters. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government must maintain law and order at every cost.
The Chief Minister also flagged the issue of problems being faced by the farmers having landed across the fence. He also urged the Union Home Minister to appoint a Punjab cadre officer as SSP in Chandigarh, which has been pending for a long. Bhagwant Mann also sought the kind intervention of the Union Home Minister for the immediate release of pending arrears of the Rural Development Fee (RDF).
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and Special Principal Secretary to CM Ravi Bhagat.
(With inputs from ANI)
