Amarinder warns Pak, says India has a bigger Army

GURDASPUR: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday struck a combative note at a function to lay the foundation of the Kartarpur corridor, delivering a sharp warning to Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa to stop brutal killings of Indian soldiers and innocent citizens.

Interestingly, the pointed reference to the Pakistan army chief came at a function for a project that is seen to signal a possible thaw in India-Pakistan ties as it is intended to facilitate visits of Indian pilgrims to the Sikh shrine at Kartarpur which is the final resting place of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

Speaking in the presence of central ministers and state dignitaries, Singh said he will protect his "state and people till the last drop of my blood" and said he turned down an invitation to visit Kartarpur for a function to mark the Pakistan side of the corridor as he was mindful of the neighbour's actions against Indian citizens.

Calling on the Imran Khan government to rein in the army or face serious consequences if violence against India did not stop, Amarinder said India has a bigger army than Pakistan. "India is a land of peace and has never been involved in violence, but we are prepared to counter Pakistan's aggression in kind if our peace and sovereignty continues to be threatened," he added.

Speaking after joining Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu to lay the foundation for the Kartarpur corridor at Maan village near Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, Amarinder reminded the audience that Punjab had suffered Pakistan-sponsored militancy for over two decades. "My family had good ties with Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, but I will not go there since my responsibility is towards the safety of my people which Pakistan was trying to put in jeopardy," he said, repeating what he wrote to Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi declining the invitation for the November 28 event.

While the CM singled out Pakistan for stern comments, local government and tourism minister Navjot Singh Sidhu kept away from the function despite having made a short trip to Dera Baba Nanak on Monday, taking a break from campaigning in Madhya Pradesh.