Calling for extreme vigil against Pakistan, which continued to try to foment trouble even 75 years after independence, the Chief Minister asserted that while “we want Punjab, but will not tolerate any aggression or attack on our territory.” Addressing the people of Punjab after unfurling the national flag, the Chief Minister declared “we will teach them (Pakistan) the lesson of their lifetime if they try to be adventurous.”

Pointing to the use of drones by the neighbouring country to smuggle arms and drugs into the state, Captain Amarinder warned that Pakistan would not leave any opportunity to take advantage of any vulnerability in Punjab.

Stressing the need to ensure peace in the state to promote the development of industry and the progress of its people, the Chief Minister said his government would not tolerate any threat, including those from gangsters and terrorists. “We will deal with them squarely,” he pledged, adding that “Any threat to Punjab would be a danger to our entire nation.” He disclosed that since his government took over, 47 Pakistani terrorist modules and 347 modules of gangsters had been neutralized, including some key gangsters who had been deported from Armenia, UAE and other countries, with more awaiting deportation.

Later, interacting informally with some media-persons on the sidelines of the I-day function, the Chief Minister expressed concern about the continuing agitation of the farmers and said he had raised the issue recently during his meetings with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister. He said he demanded the repeal of the Farm Laws, which were anti-farmer and against the spirit of the Constitution. He made it clear that he would continue to fight with the farmers for the revocation of these legislations, and would not let the sacrifices of those who had lost their lives in this struggle go in vain.

Captain Amarinder Singh said, “The fight against these Black Laws is not political. It does not matter who is in power where. We need to stand by what is right and to ensure that our rights under the Constitution are not crushed. Had some of the other political parties heeded my repeated implorations in June last year to unitedly articulate our deep concerns before the Centre, this situation might not have arisen.”

CM said that the legal efforts made by his government to get the sacrilege cases back from the CBI, to which the previous SAD-BJP government had handed over the 3 FIRs they had registered, along with another 3 in the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing cases. Since taking over the cases from the CBI, chargesheets have been filed in four cases against 23 persons and 15 police personnel have been suspended while 10 persons have been arrested, he said, adding that 10 challans have been presented so far.

The government was in the process of setting up 5 new medical colleges, besides upgrading the existing ones, he added.

The Chief Minister expressed pride in the performance of the 20 boys and girls who had brought laurels to the state in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympic Games and said besides the cash rewards, government jobs would be given to all of them. He, however, personally felt all this was not enough to appreciate their achievements, he added.

On the welfare of servicemen, he disclosed that 82 next-of-kin of Martyrs have been given jobs in the state government, with another 15 set to be given jobs soon. This is in addition to the increase in ex-gratia to the families from Rs 12 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh, he said, adding that 4300 Guardians of Governance are working across the state to ensure that the benefits of schemes reach the citizens.

“Our policies have been greatly appreciated by the people in the urban areas, which is reflected in the huge mandate given to the Congress party in the Municipal elections,” he noted, thanking the people for the same.

Terming himself to be blessed to be part of the historic occasions of the 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the 400th Prakash Purab of Ninth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the Chief Minister said once the Covid situation improves, the latter will be celebrated as warranted by the occasion. The 350th Birth Anniversary of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji also could not be celebrated due to Covid but the state government will shortly install a statue of the legendary Sikh General in Sirhind, he said. Terming the closing of Kartarpur Corridor as a big casualty of the Covid, the Chief Minister again requested the Government of India to take up the matter for its early opening so that the Sikh Sangat can have Khulle Darshan Didar.

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Chandigarh: Ahead of Independence Day, police have recovered a tiffin bomb box containing over 2 kg of RDX explosive at Daleke village of Amritsar on Sunday evening.
The tiffin bomb was suspected to be dropped by a drone flying in from Pakistan, Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta said while addressing a press conference here on Monday.
He said that some other explosives including five hand grenades were also found in the bag containing the tiffin bomb and investigation is underway to ascertain the source of supply.
“On Sunday night, drones were heard in an Amritsar village and then district police received an input that a bag was found abandoned in suspicious circumstances. Upon opening it, the police found explosives including seven pouches, five hand grenades and 100 rounds of 9mm pistol in it. An explosive substance weighing 2 kg along with a remote controller also seized from the spot,” DGP said.
He said that an NSG team was called at the spot and preliminary investigation reveals that a sophisticated bomb has about 2-3 kg of RDX explosive, which can provide a timed explosion.
“There was also a printed circuit board that can help in remote signal and three detonators have been found along with a power energiser of 9 volts. It was assembled very meticulously and carefully by experts. It could have been used against any target,” the DGP said, adding that police did not know where it was to be targeted.
He said that activities have been increased across the border for the past two to three months and security has been beefed up on Indo-Pak borders in the state.
“This is a very sinister and worrisome development. We want to be aware the general public of this development as this IED was fitted in a children’s tiffin box. It looked attractive having a sticker of a scooter. It was targeted at innocent people like children,” he said requesting people to do not open or touch any abandoned box/bag.
DGP said that issue had been taken up before Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh so that the government could make people aware.

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MUMBAI (Reuters) – Pakistan did all they could to get their World Twenty20 match against India moved to Kolkata, even threatening to withdraw, but poor selection and the hosts’ all-round superiority left them wishing they had not bothered to turn up at all.

The most anticipated match of the tournament between the neighbours was shifted to Eden Gardens at the last moment over security concerns at the original venue at Dharamsala.

Pakistan repeatedly emphasised India’s morale-sapping loss in the opener against New Zealand was an advantage for them and they were even more confident of breaking their jinx of losing every World Cup match between the bitter rivals.

Their decision to play four fast bowlers against India reflected an approach more suited to the 1980s West Indies side and dropping spinner Imad Wasim at the expense of a paceman underlined their failure to read the surface.

Asked to bat in the rain-shortened Group Two match, the 2009 champions were largely subdued once off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin got the new ball to turn viciously.

Doubts seemed to creep into Pakistan’s minds regarding what would be a decent target to set India, who folded for 79 against the Kiwis on a turning track while chasing 127 in their opener, and the innings never gained momentum until the death overs.

MEAGRE TOTAL

“There are few areas we need to improve, specially our batting,” said Shoaib Malik, who top-scored with a 26 for Pakistan. “Even though it was a tough pitch to bat on, I believe we could have set a higher target.”

In the end, Pakistan could only manage a meagre 118 for five in their 18 overs, nowhere near enough without the bowling depth New Zealand could draw upon in Nagpur when their spinners picked up nine of 10 wickets to stun India.

India did suffer a minor wobble though, slumping to 23-3 after Mohammad Sami dismissed Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina in consecutive deliveries in the fifth over to silence the 60,000 crowd at Eden Gardens as well as the millions watching on TV.

However, India’s batting mainstay Virat Kohli hit a prudent 55 not out to calm the nerves and showed why he is considered one of the world’s best.

The right-hander, who averages almost 85 in T20s against Pakistan, was aided by the fact that he did not have to face too many deliveries from Mohammad Amir, whose opening spell of 1-3 ran shivers down India’s spines.

The left-arm paceman was not brought back on by Shahid Afridi until India were nearing victory and the leg-spinning skipper, who lacks the guile to turn the ball effectively, was unable to stem the flow of runs himself.

As the pressure lifted, India were easily able to maintain their utter dominance of Pakistan in World Cup events, adding a fifth World Twenty20 victory to the six triumphs in the 50-over format.

 (Editing by John O’Brien)

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