NO TAKERS FOR ‘REFERENDUM 2020’ IN PUNJAB: AMARINDER

CHANDIGARH:Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh said there are no takers for the “Referendum 2020” campaign in Punjab, and dubbed the proposed rally at Trafalgar Square in London on August 12 as an attempt by a handful of frustrated ISI-backed foreign Sikhs to foment trouble in Punjab and India by raising divisive voices.

In an informal chat with some newsmen on Friday, the CM said he was not at all worried about these fringe elements and their proposed Aug 12 rally in London.

“They have been at it for long and have been playing in the hands of the ISI, which has an open agenda to foment trouble in Punjab and India,” he said, adding that he would not allow anyone to disturb the peace in the state.

The CM said if these elements think they can come and disturb the peace of my country and Punjab, they are mistaken. He said he had asked Punjab Police to deal with any attempts to revive terrorism with a “strict hand”. In the past 15 months, police had cracked down on several terror modules and seized a number of arms and ammunition and narcotics, the CM added.

On UK’s refusal to stop the London rally, the CM said: “It does not bother me. This entire referendum business is just a moneymaking racket of Sikhs for Justice and its promoters.”

The CM castigated the SFJ, describing it is a “sham organisation” which does not deal in any human rights activities. He said only a handful of “frustrated” Sikhs in UK, Canada, USA are backing this campaign, which he said will not last long.