Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh asks Union Home Minister Amit Shah for 25 more CAPF companies

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 10

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence here and discussed with him issues pertaining to the security situation in the state and also about ongoing farmers’ agitation against the central farm laws.

The CM’s office issued a statement saying Singh asked the Home Minister to urgently provide to the state 25 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and anti-drone gadgets to the Border Security Force (BSF), given the security threat posed from across the border.

Urges Home Minister to repeal farm laws

Fearing inimical powers from across the border may try to exploit the resentment against the government, the CM urged the Union Home Minister to immediately repeal the central farm laws

“The state requires 5.5 Lakh MT of DAP for the rabi season,” he told Shah, who is also the Minister for Co-operative Societies

“Citing the recent influx of weapons, hand-grenades and IEDs into the state, with Pakistan’s ISI also raising the ante ahead of Independence Day and in the run-up to the Assembly elections, Capt Amarinder told Shah that the security situation was grave and needed the Centre's immediate intervention,” the CMO said.

The Chief Minister urged the Home Minister to ensure CAPF deployment in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala, Bathinda, Phagwara and Moga.

Citing inputs from central and state agencies and corroborated by disclosures made by arrested terrorists, the statement quoting the Chief Minister said, “Potential individual and mass indiscriminate targets include trains, buses and temples, prominent farmer leaders (specific inputs about five such farmer leaders had been received

but they had refused to take security offered by

Punjab and Haryana police), RSS offices, Sangh/BJP/Shiv Sena leaders based in Punjab, deras, and Nirankari Bhawans.”

“With the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for February-March 2022, many militant and radical operatives are being pressured by the ISI to carry out terrorist actions. These are very serious and worrisome developments having huge security implications for the border state and its people,” the CM told Shah, while reminding him of earlier targeted killings, which were masterminded by the ISI.