Tribune news Service

New Delhi, October 3

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said the state government was fully prepared to counter the resurgence of terror threat from Pakistan. He said Pakistan drone threat should not be linked to the religious occasion of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev.

The two could not be connected, he told reporters here in response to questions during an informal chat. Asked about border tension in the light of the recent recovery of two drones reportedly smuggling arms from Pakistan into Punjab, the Chief Minister said the issue had nothing to do with Kartarpur corridor opening to mark the 550th Parkash Purb.

Asked if the matter was discussed with the Prime Minister during a meeting today, the CM said he met the PM only to extend an invite for the Gurpurb celebrations. The state government was dealing with the matter and was geared to maintain law and order in Punjab at any cost, he said, adding, “We will not allow anyone to disturb the state’s peace and harmony.”

Pakistan was trying to create disharmony and disturbance in Punjab not just through drones, but also through infiltration and narco-terrorism, Captain Amarinder said. “We will not let that happen, we have no doubt that we are fully equipped to deal with them,” he added.

In response to another question, the CM said he had asked the IAF and the BSF to heighten alert at the border in view of the discovery of the drone infiltration.

Meanwhile, Capt Amarinder urged the Centre to take up cannalisation of the state’s three eastern rivers of the Indus Water System as a national project. In a proposal to the PM, he suggested construction of high-speed economic corridors on the 985-km-long river embankments, apart from river training works, flood protection measures and lining of internal side-slopes of the Sutlej, Ravi and Beas.