Lashing out at Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu for his “close ties” in Pakistan, former Chief Minister and Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that the state’s governance could not be handed over to people who were willing to compromise national security to further their personal and political ambitions.
Days after disclosing that he had received a “request” from Pakistan to re-induct Sidhu in the Cabinet, Capt Amarinder revealed that the request was made by Sidhu’s “friend” Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Capt Amarinder expressed strong anger over the past incident when Sidhu hugged the Pakistan army chief, who was ordering his soldiers every day to kill Indians. “Who do you hate more? The soldiers who fire or the one who gives the order?,” the former Chief Minister asked the people of Patiala at a public meeting at Ramalila Maidan.
“Sidhu hugging General Bajwa and then his re-induction into the State Cabinet being recommended by the Prime Minister of Pakistan clearly showed that he could not be relied upon to keep Punjab and India safe from the enemy across the border...We want peace with Pakistan but will not bow to them. We are prepared to fight, our Army is ready to take them head on,” Capt Amarinder asserted.
Citing the need for the highest levels of security in the border state of Punjab, the former Chief Minister said that the state’s and country’s safety was of paramount importance, which only the PLC alliance, with the support of the BJP-led Government at the Centre, could ensure.
While there was no conflict between the people of the two countries, the hostile regime in Pakistan posed a serious danger which could not be undermined, he said. He pointed out that since March 2017, as many as 83 Punjabi soldiers had been killed by Pakistan on border, and his government had given compensation of Rs 50 lakh and a job to the kin of the deceased soldiers.
MODI, SHAH TO CAMPAIGN FOR ALLIANCE CANDIDATES
Announcing that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be coming to Punjab soon to campaign for the PLC-BJP-SAD Sanyukt coalition, Capt Amarinder said that the alliance had been crafted in the interest of Punjab and the country.
The state, with its economy in total shambles, was at a crossroads and needed the Centre’s support to go ahead, he stressed, adding that Punjab was reeling under a debt of Rs 70,000 crores, with Charanjit Singh Channi adding Rs 33,000 crore in just 111 days.
For Punjab’s survival, it is necessary that the state and the Centre work together, said Capt Amarinder, adding that he personally has had cordial relations with Modi since the latter was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and the RSS prabhari for Punjab.