New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Tuesday, to press upon the demand of repeal of farm laws, citing social, economic and security implications of the prolonged farmers’ agitation. Expressing concern over the fear of inimical powers from across the border trying to exploit the resentment and disgruntlement against the Government, the Chief Minister sought an enduring and expeditious solution to the farmers’ concerns.
According to the official statement of CM's office, Capt warned, “While these protests have so far been largely peaceful, one can sense rising tempers, especially as the State moves towards elections in early 2022.”
"The prolonged agitation is not only impacting economic activities in Punjab but also has the potential to affect its social fabric, especially when political parties and groups take strong positions," he added. He recalled that that he had even earlier sought appointment from Shah to meet with an All-Party delegation from Punjab.
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On another issue of escalating threat to the state’s security from across the border, Captain Amarinder Singh asked Amit Shah to urgently provide 25 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and anti-drone gadgets for the Border Security Force (BSF) for protection from Pak-backed terror forces. Citing the recent heavy influx of weapons, hand-grenades and IEDs into the state, with Pakistan’s ISI also raising the ante ahead of the Independence Day and in the run-up to the Punjab Assembly polls, the Chief Minister told Shah that the security situation was grave and needed the Centre’s immediate intervention.
He pointed to the potent threat to the security of vital infrastructure/installations and public meetings/events being attended by highly threatened individuals. The Chief Minister apprised Shah about the recent efforts by Pakistan’s ISI and the country’s establishment to push large quantities of weapons, hand-grenades, RDX explosive, detonators, timer devices, sophisticated laboratory made tiffin bombs into Punjab for carrying out terrorist acts.
The statement from his office quoted CM, “With the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for February-March 2022, many militant and radical operatives are being pressurized by the ISI to carry out terrorist actions. These are very serious and worrisome developments having huge security implications for the border state and its people.”
The Chief Minister further observed that the fencing at the Indo-Pak border in Punjab had been rendered ineffective as a result of the tremendous capacity and expertise developed by the ISI and Pakistan based Khalistani terrorist outfits, which allows them to use drones for delivery of terrorist hardware and drugs over the border fence into Punjab with ease. This, he stressed, had emerged as a serious national security concern.
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