Punjab CM slams Pak Army\, warns against its ulterior motives in opening Kartarpur corridor

Punjab CM slams Pak Army, warns against its ulterior motives in opening Kartarpur corridor

Press Trust of India  |  Chandigarh 

Minister on Friday slammed the Army raising questions on its intentions to open the Corridor between the two countries and for trying to revive terrorism in the border state.

"Do you really think that the Army is our sympathiser when it is continuously killing our soldiers at the border with the ultimate aim of destabilising the border state," he said, referring to the leaders in the assembly and urged them to contribute to maintaining peace in the state.

"Why did broke about the corridor even before the swearing-in ceremony of What was his interest," he said.

Singh had refused to visit Pakistan for the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Corridor across the border on November 28, citing terrorist attacks by Pakistan-backed terrorists in and killing of Indian soldiers on the border.

He, however said, he hopes the corridor would become a "bridge of peace" in the times to come and reiterated that he accompany the first 'Jatha' to gurdwara.

The minister also asked Pakistan to "reign in his army".

"I want to congratulate the Pakistan (on the decision to open the corridor). My only request to him is that you are a newly elected and people have high hopes from him; he should rein in his army," Singh said.

On November 26, M Venkaiah Naidu and Singh laid the foundation stone of the corridor on the Indian side of the border. On completion, the corridor will facilitate Sikh pilgrims in visiting the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib on the banks of in Pakistan where Guru Nanak Dev, the of Sikhism, had spent 18 years.

The reiterated his government's commitment to protect from ISI-backed terrorism and said no one would be allowed to push it back into terrorism.

Though leaders shared Singh's concern about Pakistan Army's designs to revive militancy in Punjab, opposition leaders said there should be no any "negativity" on the issue.

"It is a historic resolution and we unanimously support it. But there should not be any negativity. Terrorists do not have religion and they only follow their mission. It is the government of which will ensure foolproof security," said chief

Akali leader said there should be no room for scepticism on the issue. MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan praised for pushing for the opening of the corridor and rejected suggestions that there could be any recruitment of people from here for spreading terror activities in Punjab.

However, said the chief minister's fears cannot be overlooked. He said Pakistan has never been sincere in mending ties with and cited terrorist attacks in Kashmir, and

Following the discussion, the unanimously passed the resolution and urged the Centre to complete all necessary work before the 550th birth anniversary of in November 2019 and ensure that peace in Punjab is not disturbed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, December 14 2018. 20:10 IST