Expressing grave concerns over threats from UK-based radical and militant groups to the Punjab Chief Minister as well as senior government and police officials, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar has urged the Prime Minister to take up the matter with the British authorities.In a statement issued here on Friday, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief said that given the serious security implications of the issue, not just for Punjab but for the nation as a whole, the Centre should raise it with the UK government on top priority.Jakhar urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally intervene and pressurize the UK government to crack down on all such anti-India elements that had been using British soil to unleash anti-Punjab and anti-India propaganda. In the absence of any check on their nefarious activities by the UK authorities, these forces had escalated their campaign to disrupt the peace and harmony of Punjab and destabilize India, he added.The Prime Minister should question the UK authorities about the misuse of the country’s soil for carrying out terror activities by pro-Khalistani and other radical elements out to destroy India’s stability, Jakhar said, adding that any delay or laxity in this regard would cost India heavy.
Punjab’s destruction would lead to the destabilisation of the entire nation and any attempts to do so needed to be nipped in the bud, he stressed.Jakhar underlined the need for the central government to be more proactive and aggressive in dealing with these elements, which were fast spreading their network across various countries outside the Indian borders. It was time the Centre came out with a strong diplomatic response to countries like Canada, Germany, US, UK and Italy, which appeared to have become terror hubs for radical organisations engaged in spreading misinformation and negative propaganda about India, he added.The recent arrests of terrorists involved in various cases, including the targeted killings in Punjab, clearly showed a highly dangerous pattern of international shores being used by such outfits to carry out their anti-India activities, said Jakhar. Citing the example of UK citizen Jagtar Singh Johal, the PPCC president said militants and their sympathisers, as well as radical elements based in Britain and other western countries had launched a false, slanderous and orchestrated media campaign against the Punjab government and police. Death threats were being issued against the Chief Minister, the state DGP and others from British soil, he pointed out, adding that these threats were being made through phone, whatsapp and various social media.