Amritsar: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, on the historic 75th Independence Day of the country, on Sunday vowed to protect the border state against the nefarious designs of Pakistan, even as he pledged to continue fighting with the farmers for the repeal of the Centre’s black farm laws. Calling for extreme vigil against Pakistan, which continued to try to foment trouble even 75 years after independence, the chief minister asserted that while “we want Punjab, but will not tolerate any aggression or attack on our territory”.
Addressing the people of Punjab after unfurling the national flag, the chief minister declared “we will teach them (Pakistan) the lesson of their lifetime if they try to be adventurous”. Pointing to the use of drones by the neighbouring country to smuggle arms and drugs into the state, Capt Amarinder warned that Pakistan would not leave any opportunity to take advantage of any vulnerability in Punjab.
Stressing the need to ensure peace in the state to promote the development of industry and the progress of its people, the chief minister said his government would not tolerate any threat, including those from gangsters and terrorists. “We will deal with them squarely,” he pledged, adding that “any threat to Punjab would be a danger to our entire nation”.
He disclosed that since his government took over, 47 Pakistani terrorist modules and 347 modules of gangsters had been neutralized, including some key gangsters who had been deported from Armenia, UAE and other countries, with more awaiting deportation.
Later, interacting informally with some media-persons, the chief minister expressed concern about the continuing agitation of the farmers and said he had raised the issue recently during his meetings with the prime minister and the Union home minister. He said he demanded the repeal of the farm laws, which were anti-farmer and against the spirit of the Constitution. He made it clear that he would continue to fight with the farmers for the revocation of these legislations, and would not let the sacrifices of those who had lost their lives in this struggle go in vain.
