Chandigarh,August 22
Taking the strong exception to the recent statements of two of Navjot Sidhu’s advisors onsensitive national issues like Kashmir and Pakistan, Punjab Chief MinisterCaptain Amarinder Singh on Sunday warned against such atrocious and ill-conceivedcomments that were potentially dangerous to the peace and stability of thestate and the country.
CaptainAmarinder urged Sidhu’s advisors to stick to giving advice to the PPCCpresident and not speak on matters of which they clearly had little or noknowledge, and had no understanding of the implications of their comments.
TheChief Minister was reacting to reported remarks of Dr Pyare Lal Gargquestioning his (Captain Amarinder’s) criticism of Pakistan, as well as theearlier controversial statement of Malwinder Singh Mali on Kashmir. Both ofthem were recently appointed by Sidhu as his advisors.
CaptainAmarinder expressed shock at the extraordinary statements of Mali and Garg,which he said were totally misplaced and antagonistic to the stated position ofIndia and the Congress on Pakistan and Kashmir. He urged the Punjab Congresspresident to rein in his advisors before they end up doing more damage toIndia’s interests.
“Kashmirwas and is an inalienable part of India,” asserted the Chief Minister, addingthat with his proclamation to the contrary, Mali had effectively andinexplicably toed Islamabad’s line. “This is totally anti-national,” he said,also slamming Mali for failing to withdraw his statement despite the widespreadcondemnation it had evoked not only from other parties but also from within theCongress.
RidiculingGarg’s statement that criticism of Pakistan by him (Captain Amarinder) was notin the interest of Punjab, the Chief Minister said Sidhu’s advisor was clearlydisconnected from the ground reality. “The fact, which every Punjabi and infact every Indian knows, is that Pakistan’s threat to us is real. Every daythey are pushing weapons and drugs into Punjab via drones in a brazen attemptto destabilise our state, and our nation. Punjabi soldiers are dying at theborders at the hands of Pak-backed forces,” pointed out the Chief Minister,dubbing Garg’s remarks as irrational and unjustified.
“Gargmay have forgotten the thousands of Punjabi lives lost in the fire of Pak-backedterrorism of the 1980s and 1990s, but I have not. Nor have the people ofPunjab. And we will continue to do everything in our power to fight offPakistan’s dangerous games,” asserted Captain Amarinder, urging Garg not toundermine the sacrifices of Punjabis with his outrageous, irresponsible andpatently politically motivated statements.