Punjab Deputy CM and Home Minister Sukhjinder Randhawaconducted surprise checking at Punjab Police Headquarters today.
Taking strong exception to the ‘alarmist narrative’ thatis sought to be created by certain people having vested interests about peaceand security in Punjab and outside, the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder SinghRandhawa on Friday warned against such designs as it will create an unnecessarysense of fear and insecurity among the people.
“Rest assured, Punjab is in safe hands and if andwhenever needed, every sort of sacrifice will be offered”, said Randhawa, whileassuring all those critics, who have been raising concerns over the threat fromPakistan after the change of regime in the state.
Sukhinder Randhawa, who also holds the Home portfolio,while having informal interaction with media after conducting a surprisechecking at the Punjab Police Headquarters in Sector-9 here at 9 am. In whatcould be seen as a message to former PPCC chief amid Congress crisis in state,he was accompanied by officiating DGP Punjab Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota, ADGP Lawand Order Gaurav Yadav, ADGP Provisioning Naresh Arora and ADGP TechnicalService Kuldeep Singh.
Notably, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi haddirected all the government officers/employees at state/district/tehsil/blocklevel to reach at their concerned offices by 9am and remain available for thepublic till the office hours in the evening.
The Deputy Chief Minister said, while it is a fact thatPakistan and its intelligence agencies are always trying to create trouble inIndia and Punjab being the border state was at a greater risk, at the sametime, Punjabis are prepared to thwart any challenge with all their courage andmight. “There is nothing new about this threat as it was existed before as welland it will continue in future also,” he observed, while questioning, “what haschanged within less than two weeks?”. He termed Punjab as the Sword arm of theCountry.
Referring to the sacrifices of Congress party from pre topost independence era, S. Randhawa said, “Every Congressman was inspired bytheir sacrifice and these won’t be allowed to go in vain. We have laid down ourlives for defending the unity and integrity of the country while others havebeen crying hoarse from the fence and safe distance.” he said adding that thiswas not for the first time that the threat is there.
The Deputy Chief Minister regretted that just forpolitical opposition, an alarmist position was being taken so as to createpanic and fear among people. “Whom are you trying to help or benefit with suchalarmist hue and cry?” he asked, while remarking that facing the challenge isone thing and creating panic and alarm is something else.
Moreover, the Home Minister questioned, what has changedjust within a few days that barely a week ago, Punjab was absolutely safe andnow it has turned unsafe, as was being suggested. “And if Punjab is really indanger or trouble right now, then the seeds of that trouble must have been sownmuch before, certainly not within a week’s time”, he pointed out, while askingfor answers as to what was done to nip that trouble in the bud.
“Last, but not the least, let me assure all those who areconcerned about peace in Punjab, whether fake or genuine, that no sacrificewill be deemed too big to safeguard the peace and amity in the state and unityand integrity of the country” S. Randhawa promised.
The Deputy Chief Minister, while exempting absentofficers/officials of any action this time, said that the motive behind thissurprise check was to give better, efficient and citizen centric services tothe people. The employees in the government offices should reach theirworkplace on time so as to ensure that people face no hassles in getting theirwork done in a timely manner especially in the police stations, he added.
S. Randhawa also exhorted the Police personal to adoptzero tolerance against drugs besides ensuring peoples especially the youthparticipation in the movement against drug abuse.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister also assured timelypromotions of all the police staff. On recruitment, S. Randhawa said that theprocess to recruit over 10000 police personnel at full swing. He alsoemphasised timely filling up of the posts of Sports Quota in the policedepartment.