Amarinder denies seeking security following Khalistani threats

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday denied he has sought enhanced security in the face of open threats and intelligence inputs that fringe Khalistani elements were targetting him for his stance against their activities.

Amarinder Singh dared the Canadian pro-Khalistanis "to come to Punjab with your threats and face my government's wrath".

In a reaction to the reported video threats against him and Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu by the pro-Khalistani elements from Canada, the Chief Minister said he was "not intimidated by such acts and is more than ready to take on such forces in order to protect the state and its people".

"Elements like these are trying hard to disrupt the peace and harmony of Punjab. I will do everything in my power to stop them from realising their nefarious designs," Amarinder said.

"If they have the guts, they should come to Punjab, and my government will take suitable action to ensure that they do not get away with their cowardly threats and attempts to revive terrorism in the state," Amarinder added.

The Chief Minister dismissed reports that his government had sought Z-Plus security from the central government for him and Bittu, saying the state police were more than capable of providing protection to the people, including the Congress leaders.

A spokesperson in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) also made it clear that Amarinder was not going in for additional security in the face of the latest threats against him by the pro-Khalistanis.

The Chief Minister has clearly told his government colleagues and officials that there should be no move on their part to scale up his security cover in view of the video threats, said the spokesperson.

--IANS

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