The no-confidence motion moved by the Congress against the Akali Dal-BJP government on the issue of drug menace in Punjab was defeated by a voice vote in the Assembly on Tuesday after the BJP stood by its ally.
The Congress brought the motion after the Enforcement Directorate summoned Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the Rs. 6,000-crore synthetic drugs case. Leader of the Opposition Sunil Jakhar, who moved the motion, accused the government of not only failing to curb the drug menace but also patronising it.
However, the BJP, which sought the resignation of Mr. Majithia to ensure a fair probe and in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s zero tolerance of drugs, changed its tack during the day and declared that it would oppose the motion.
BJP State president Kamal Sharma said the party would not allow the Congress to gain from the move and staunchly support its ally. Thereafter, the outcome became a foregone conclusion as the SAD-BJP alliance has 70 seats in the 117-member Assembly.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal congratulated Mr. Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah on the party’s victory in Jharkhand and its “superb performance” in Jammu and Kashmir.
