Take up ‘terror threat’ to Capt with UK govt: Jakhar to PM

Gurdaspur MP asks for crackdown on antiindia elements that he claims use British soil for propaganda against Punjab

CHANDIGARH: Expressing concern over alleged threats from Uk-based radical and militant groups to Punjab chief minister and government officials, state Congress president Sunil Jakhar has requested the prime minister to take up the matter with British authorities.

“Given the serious security implications of the issue, not just for Punjab but for the nation as a whole, the Centre should raise it with the UK government,” Jakhar said. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must personally intervene to pressure the UK government ‘to crack down on all such anti-india elements that have been using British soil to unleash antipunjab and anti-india propaganda’.

“In the absence of any check on their nefarious activities by UK authorities, these forces had escalated their campaign to disrupt the peace and harmony of Punjab and destabilise India,” he said.

“The PM should question UK authorities about the misuse of the country’s soil for carrying out terror activities by pro-khalistani and other radical elements to destroy India’s stability,” Jakhar said.

The Congress leader said that any delay or laxity in this regard would cost India heavily.

Jakhar, who is a Congress MP from Gurdaspur, underlined, “It is time the Centre came out with a strong diplomatic response to countries such as Canada, Germany, the US, the UK and Italy, which appeared to have become terror hubs for radical organisations engaged in spreading propaganda about India,” he said.

Jakhar said that the recent arrests of terrorists involved in various cases, including the targeted killings in Punjab, ‘clearly showed a highly dangerous pattern of international shores being used by such outfits to carry out their anti-india activities’.

Citing the example of UK citizen Jagtar Singh Johal, the Punjab Congress president claimed that militants and their sympathisers, as well as radical elements based in Britain and other western countries had launched a false, slanderous and orchestrated media campaign against the Punjab government and police.

“Death threats are being issued against the chief minister, the state DGP and others from British soil,” he said, claimed that these threats were being made through phone, Whatsapp and various social media.