Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has predicted that the BJP will form the next government in Punjab and ruled out any pre-poll alliance in the neighbouring state. "The BJP's alliance is with the people, who have made up their minds to bring about a change and hand over the reins to a double-engine government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.
Saini trained his fire on the AAP government in Punjab over the drug menace. "In Punjab, people raising their voices against the drug mafia are either shot dead or booked by the police," he alleged. "Both the Congress and AAP had promised to eradicate drugs, but failed to deliver. AAP had pledged to eliminate the menace within three to six months of coming to power, but failed to keep its word."
Citing Haryana's measures, he said the state had seized properties worth over Rs 11 crore belonging to drug traffickers and jailed around 4,000 to 5,000 people. It had set up the Sankalp Society and committees involving NGOs at village, district and state levels to help treatment and rehabilitation, he said, adding that monthly marathons encouraged youth to take up sport. "The BJP will work to eliminate the drug menace in Punjab if voted to power," he asserted.
On the IDFC First Bank scam, Saini called the loss of public money unfortunate and said the entire amount had been recovered. The matter has been handed to the CBI while the finance department and chief secretary examine it, he said, adding a standard operating procedure had been framed for empanelling and removing banks.