Won’t tolerate Pak aggression, says Capt Amarinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 16

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh unfurled the national flag at Gandhi Ground in Amritsar during the 75th Independence Day on Sunday.

The CM conferred state awards on 45 persons for their valuable contribution to the society and dedicated services with a certificate, shawl and a medal. He also handed over appointment letters for government jobs to one family member each of the 34 victims of the tragic Amritsar rail accident at Jaura Phatak.

The CM also inspected the parade and took the salute of the march past led by Commander DSP Madhvi Sharma and Second-in- Command DSP Harinder Singh Mann. Calling for extreme vigil against Pakistan, which continued to try to foment trouble, the CM asserted that no aggression or attack on our territory would be tolerated.

He condemned the nefarious designs of neighbouring Pakistan from where arms, RDX, grenades, drugs and other forbidden materials were being smuggled through drones. “Still, our police and BSF was quite vigilant to thwart the activities from across the border and maintain peace in the state,” he said.

The CM said since his government took over, 47 Pakistan terrorist modules and 347 modules of gangsters had been neutralised, including some key gangsters who had been deported from Armenia, UAE and other countries, with more awaiting deportation.

Similarly, 47,510 cases were registered under the NDPS Act in which 61,744, including 216 big fish, were nabbed and over 2-tonne heroin, 30-kg smack and over 200 properties of drug traders and extremists were seized during the existing term, he claimed. He said a memorial dedicated to unsung Punjabis who died in cellular jail would be installed.

In Bathinda, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal hoisted the Tricolor during at the Hockey Stadium at Government Rajindra College. He said the government would soon confirm the services of contract workers and the details were being finalised by the government.

In Muktsar, contract employees of some government departments showed black flags to Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, when the latter was on his way to Guru Gobind Singh Sports Stadium to hoist the national flag. They also burnt his effigy and blocked the traffic.

In Patiala, Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra hoisted the national flag at Raja Bhalindra Singh Sports Complex. He said the government was committed to securing the future of employees and soon "they would get good news".

School Education and Public Works Minister Vijay Inder Singla unfurled the national flag at the Sangrur Police Line Stadium and Minister for Forests, Social Justice and Minority Sadhu Singh Dharamsot hoisted the Tricolour at the Barnala District Administrative Complex, while minister Razia Sultana presided over a function in Malerkotla.

Islamabad must respect truce pact: BSF

• BSF Director General SS Deswal said India always stuck to bilateral agreements, irrespective of what Pakistan did
• “They have to understand that they have signed a ceasefire bilateral agreement. India follows it, they should too,” he said
• He was at the Attari-Wagah joint check-post to unfurl the Tricolour to mark the 75th Independence Day
• The border forces of both nations exchanged greetings. From India, BSF Commandant Jasbir Singh offered sweets to Pakistan

Balloons in Ropar

• Many balloons with slogans in favour of Pakistan were found in fields of Sandoa village in Rohtak on Sunday
• SSP Akhil Chaudhary said those might have been released in Pak during their I-Day celebrations and with the wind flow reached here

Jobless protest

• Demanding jobs, members of five unions staged a protest at Mahavir Chowk and later before the DC’s residence in Sangrur on Sunday
• “Our protests will continue till our demands are met,” said Sukhwinder Dhilwan, president of BEd-TET pass Union

(With inputs from Bathinda, Muktsar, Patiala, Sangrur)

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