‘Attempts to revive Punjab insurgency through external links’
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Punjab has been peaceful but attempts are being made to revive insurgency in state again BIPIN RAWAT, Army chief
NEW DELHI: Attempts are being made through “external linkages” to “revive insurgency” in Punjab and if early action is not taken, it will be too late, army chief General Bipin Rawat said on Saturday.
He was addressing a gathering of senior army officers, defence experts and former senior officials of the government and police at a seminar here on “Changing Contours of Internal Security in India: Trends and Responses”.
“Punjab has been peaceful but because of these external linkages, attempts again are being made to revive insurgency in the state,” he said, adding:
“We have to be very careful. Let us not think that Punjab (situation) is over. We cannot close our eyes to what is happening in Punjab. And, if we do not take early action now, it will be too late,” he said.
Punjab saw one of the worst phases of insurgencies in the 1980s during the pro-Khalistan movement which was eventually quelled by the government. In a panel discussion, former UP DGP Prakash Singh also highlighted the issue and referred to a pro-Khalistan rally organised recently in the UK aiming for “Referendum 2020”.
Hundreds of people had turned out in London on August 12 in support of a pro-Khalistan rally as well as to counter the event with an Independence Day celebrations.