Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday called for a “zero compromise policy” by India against inimical forces across the border. At the same time, he dismissed the “Khalistani threats” against him, saying that he would not allow anyone to disturb the State’s peace.
Describing himself as a ‘hardliner’ and a ‘soldier’, Capt Amarinder said that India’s response should be clear and unequivocal.
“We should stop being a gentleman’s army. If they (Pakistan) cut one of our heads, we should cut three of theirs,” he said while reacting to the barbaric killing and mutilation of two Indian soldiers along the line of Control (loC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
On the Khalistani threats, Capt Amarinder said: “If they have the guts, they should come and speak here instead of misleading people with unsubstantiated statements elsewhere.”
“They can shout their heads off, who caresIJ” said the Chief Minister, adding, “We want a Stable Punjab, we want development. Having been in the Army, I had seen wars and had never worried about any risk or threat to my safety,” he added.
Responding to a question about his charges against Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, Capt Amarinder said that his job was to raise issues and he wanted to bring big investments in the State, which required peace and stability.
He reiterated that Sajjan and several other Canadian parliamentarians had Khalistani leanings and were sympathizing with people who wanted to disturb the peace of Punjab, which could not be allowed at any cost.
Saying that he had been unable to attend the cremation of Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh, one of two soldiers whose mutilated body was found on Monday, in his village in Tarn Taran as he was unable to walk due to a foot injury, he said that he would be going to meet the martyr’s family soon.
Not laying the entire blame on the Prime Minister for the spiralling violence in Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir, Capt Amarinder asserted that the nation needed a full-time Defence Minister.
“India needs to build its defences, especially with China making inroads through land and sea. Our weaponisation has to improve if we are to counter the various cross-border threats effectively,” he added.