Even as he categorically denied seeking enhanced security in the face of open threats and intelligence inputs, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday dared the Canadian pro-Khalistanis to come to Punjab with their threats and face his government’s wrath.In a hard-hitting reaction to the reported video threats against him and Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu by the pro-Khalistani elements, purported to be from Canada, the Chief Minister said he was not intimidated by such acts and was more than ready to take on such forces in order to protect the state and its people.Elements like these are trying hard to disrupt the peace and harmony of Punjab, said Captain Amarinder, vowing to do everything in his power to stop them from realizing their nefarious designs. “If they have the guts, they should come to Punjab, and my government will take suitable action to ensure that they do not get away with their cowardly threats and attempts to revive terrorism in the state,” he added.
The Chief Minister dismissed reports that his government had sought Z Plus security from the Centre for him and Bittu, saying the state police was more than capable of providing protection to the people, including the Congress leaders. There was no question of approaching the central government for increased security, said Captain Amarinder, adding that he had full faith in the capabilities of the Punjab police, which was doing an excellent job.His government, and he personally, would not be cowed down by the threats of such spineless people, who did not have the courage to come to Punjab and openly confront him, the Chief Minister reiterated. His government would not take such threats lying down and would retaliate, as deemed suitable, to ensure that the peace and harmony of the state is not disturbed at any cost, Captain Amarinder added.
An official spokesperson in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) also made it clear that Captain Amarinder was not going in for additional security in the face of the latest threats against him by the pro-Khalistanis. The Chief Minister has clearly told his government colleagues and officials that there should be no move on their part to scale up his security cover in view of the video threats, said the spokesperson.The spokesperson regretted that organisations like Sikhs for Justice, which was purportedly behind some of the video threats doing the social media rounds, were being supported, overtly or covertly, by certain Indian origin members of the Canadian parliament. The Chief Minister, he said, was of the firm view that such organisations and elements, which constituted a minuscule section of the Sikh population in Canada, needed to be handled with an iron fist, without leniency. These elements were bringing a bad name to the NRI Sikh community and diluting the latter’s contribution to the development and progress of the countries of their stay, including Canada, he added.