Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa has called upon the residents of state to assist the state government in the war against drugs.
He was addressing a gathering at a state level function here yesterday.
"Like our great martyrs who fought for independence of our country, people of our state should fight against drugs," the ministers said.
The event was organised to commemorate the martyrdom day of Shaheed Master Karnail Singh Issru who was killed in the Goa liberation movement.
The cabinet minister added that the war against drugs could not be won unless the people assisted the government wholeheartedly.
Bajwa said the Panchayat elections would be held soon and women would get 50 per cent reservation so that they can participate in the overall development of the state.
He said the Punjab government had set a target of providing sewerage facilities in 60 per cent of the villages in the state by 2022.
Lashing out at the SAD-BJP, Punjab Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot claimed that they were responsible for the menace of drugs in the state.
He said when the SAD-BJP was in power in the state, they did not make any effort to strengthen the economy.
Dharamsot said people would soon come to see the "real face" of the SAD-BJP combine when the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report was tabled in the Vidhan Sabha.
Member of Parliament and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunil Kumar Jakhar called upon the people in the state to reject the 'Referendum 2020', which he said, is the handiwork of some anti-national forces.
Earlier, all senior leaders paid floral tributes at the statue of Shaheed Karnail Singh Issru and honoured his family members.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)