Punjab Assembly speaker undergoes dope test
Chandigarh, July 6: A day after AAP legislator in Punjab Aman Arora underwent a dope test, Punjab Assembly speaker Rana K.P. Singh also opted for it on Friday.
He volunteered and took the test at the Mohali Civil Hospital, around 10 km from here.
"It is very disheartening that Punjab, the land of Gurus and legendary warriors, is facing the menace of drug abuse," the speaker said after undergoing the dope test.
Appealing to all political parties to join hands with the state government in its fight against drugs, he said there was an urgent need to build an apolitical mass movement against drugs.
"It is a complex problem. Neither did it crop up in days nor will it be cured immediately," he added.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Aman Arora later challenged Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to undergo the dope test.
Accepting the challenge, the Chief Minister on Thursday said he was willing to undergo a dope test.
Opposition leaders are demanding that the Chief Minister should ask his Cabinet members and Congress MLAs to take the test.
However, Amarinder Singh said that he would "leave it to the conscience of other elected representatives to take a decision on the same."
The Chief Minister had earlier ordered mandatory dope test for all state employees, including police during recruitment as well as during their service.
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Puducherry (PTI): Puducherry experienced heavy rains on Saturday morning prompting the union territory administration to send SMS alerts to around 12 lakh residents cautioning them to remain vigilant as cyclonic storm Fengal is expected to make landfall near here later in the day.
District Collector A Kulothungan told PTI that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure that people remained safe.
"We have evacuated people from low lying areas and shelter homes are ready to accommodate them. Arrangements were also made to supply food packets," he said adding that National Disaster Relief Force from Arakonam has arrived to engage in relief and rehabilitation works.
According to the official, cyclone Fengal was expected to cross the coast in the evening. Control rooms have been opened in the collectorate and also in the line departments.
Toll free numbers 112, 1077 and also WhatsApp number 94889 81070 have been put in place to help people facing crisis to contact for help.
Cyclone Fengal is likely to cross between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram coasts close to Puducherry, official sources said. The government has advised people to stay indoors.
The entire stretch of beach road and also several tourist spots were closed to ensure that there was no movement of the people near the sea shore.
Schools and colleges remained closed today.
