No takers for Referendum 2020 in Punjab: Amarinder Singh

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh claimed that there are no takers for the Referendum 2020 campaign in Punjab.

The proposed event will be held at the Trafalgar Square on August 12 as an attempt by a handful of frustrated ISI backed foreign-based Sikhs to foment trouble in Punjab and India by raising divisive voices.

The Chief Minister said if these elements think that they could come and disturb the peace of the country and the state, they are mistaken.

He further stated that he had asked the Punjab police to deal with any attempts to revive terrorism with a "strict hand". Singh also pointed out that from the past 15 months of his government, the police had cracked down on several terror modules and seized a sizeable number of arms and ammunition and narcotics.

When asked about the UK government's refusal to stop the 2020 Referendum rally, the Chief Minister said, "It does not bother me. This entire referendum business is just a money making racket of Sikhs For Justice and its promoters."

He castigated Sikh For Justice (SFJ) by describing it is a "sham organisation", which does not deal with any human rights activities. Singh also said that only a handful of "frustrated" Sikhs, based in countries like the UK, Canada, USA and Germany, were backing this campaign, which he said will not last long.

"We are prepared to deal with these Kahlistani elements. If they come with arms, my advise to them is to lay them down or they would be dealt with accordingly," he said in response to a question.