Bajwa demands transparency on youth employment in Punjab

Partap Singh Bajwa, the leader of the opposition in Punjab, called for a white paper on youth employment in the assembly. He wants the document to provide detailed information about government jobs given to young people since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took power in 2022. Bajwa argued that while the government claims to have hired thousands, transparency is needed on who these individuals are and where they come from. A chaotic scene erupted in the assembly when Congress members walked out because Sukhpal Singh Khaira was not allowed to speak. Khaira had made several requests to address the assembly, which were ignored. This led to heated exchanges between Khaira, Bajwa, and the Speaker. Bajwa later criticized the Speaker's handling of the situation, stating that Congress members had been denied time to discuss public issues. In another discussion, BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma emphasized the need to catch major figures involved in the drug trade to make the state's anti-drug campaign effective. He noted that simply increasing treatment options would not address the ongoing drug problem. Sharma called for a united effort from all parties to tackle the issue, as it affects all families in Punjab. Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh supported Sharma's suggestions, sharing that the government has taken steps for treatment and awareness. He mentioned that support groups have been formed, and patients are being linked with job opportunities during their recovery. However, Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar argued that there has been an increase in those seeking treatment since the campaign began. Rana Inder Pratap Singh demanded limits on the number of security personnel assigned to politicians. He pointed out that many officials have excessive security details, while regular police stations lack adequate staffing. He suggested restricting security to four personnel per politician to enhance public safety and address law and order issues more effectively. Singh also called for harsher penalties for crimes to prevent repeat offenses.