Punjab proposes death penalty for drug peddlers, smugglers
Chandigarh, July 2: With the opposition mounting pressure on the Congress government to take action against rampant drugs abuse in the state, the Punjab cabinet on Monday decided to recommend death penalty for drug peddlers and smugglers to the Central government.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who chaired the special meeting of the cabinet on Monday to discuss the drugs issue, directed Director General of Police Suresh Arora to intensify the police crackdown on the drug menace.
The decision to recommend death penalty for drug peddlers and smugglers was taken at the cabinet meeting, and it was resolved to send a formal recommendation soon to the Union Government to this effect, an official spokesperson said here.
"The cabinet also decided to constitute a special working group under the Additional Chief Secretary, Home, N.S. Kalsi to review and monitor, on a day-to-day basis, the action being taken to check and control drug abuse," the spokesperson said.
The cabinet took stock of the cases of deaths resulting from drug overdose, which Special Task Force (STF) chief Harpreet Singh Sidhu admitted to be a matter of concern.
Citing data relating to arrests and seizures under the NDPS Act, the DGP pointed out that there had been a sharp increase in the figures since the present government took over.
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Pakistan minister heading Asian cricket body, BCCI likely to withdraw from Asia Cup: Report
New Delhi: Following the recent escalation in India-Pakistan hostilities, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly set to withdraw from upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments. The ACC is currently headed by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The BCCI has informed the ACC about its decision to withdraw from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month and from the biennial Men’s Asia Cup in September, as reported by The Indian Express on Monday.
A BCCI source told the news outlet that the Indian team cannot take part in a tournament overseen by the ACC, which is currently headed by a Pakistani minister. “That’s the sentiment of the nation. We have verbally communicated to ACC about our withdrawal from the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and our future participation in their events too is on hold. We are in constant touch with the Indian government,” TIE quoted the source as saying.
This development casts serious doubt over the Men’s Asia Cup that India was to host in September.
The BCCI reportedly believes that an Asia Cup without India's participation would be commercially unviable. Given India's major role in global cricket viewership and sponsorship, particularly the high-stakes India-Pakistan fixtures, the absence of the Indian team would significantly diminish broadcaster interest and financial backing.
