Punjab CM flays foreign governments for stand on terror suspect’s arrest

Chandigarh, Nov 24 (IANS) Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday rejected as "baseless" the statements emanating from the UK, Canada and other countries on the arrest and alleged torture of UK national Jagtar Singh Johal in a terror module case.

Flaying the governments of the United Kingdom, Canada and other countries and their leaders for questioning the arrest of Johal alias Jaggi, an Indian origin person, with the busting of a terror module in Punjab, the Chief Minister said none had approached either the Punjab government or the Indian government on the issue.

As for allegations of Johal's torture by Punjab Police, Amarinder said these foreign governments had no evidence of what they were claiming.

"They have no face to do so, as all their allegations are totally baseless, with not an iota of proof to support them," the Chief Minister said here.

"India has never interfered in other countries' policing and legal matters, even if an Indian citizen was involved, and expect the same respect and diplomatic propriety to be followed by other nations as well," he added.

"Radical elements based in Britain and other countries have orchestrated a false and slanderous media campaign against the Punjab government and state police," he said.

Amarinder Singh also flayed the opposition in Punjab for raising doubts over Johal's arrest in the targeted killing of Hindu leaders since January 2016, accusing them of "acting against Punjab's interests by echoing baseless statements of foreign elements".

Reacting to statements by Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party leaders, the Chief Minister termed their comments "unfortunate" and not in the interest of Punjab and its people.

"There is a well planned conspiracy at work in this whole affair," Amarinder Singh said, and challenged opposition leaders to prove their charge of human rights violation of Johal.

"In fact, police officers are receiving death threats targeted at them and their family members from such elements over phone, WhatsApp and social media platforms," the Chief Minister claimed.

"From permission to talk to his family to consular access, medical examinations to timely production in court, the due process of law had been followed at every step from the moment he was arrested," Amarinder Singh said.

The Chief Minister said his government was more concerned about maintaining Punjab's peace and stability rather than worrying about perceived embarrassment at the hands of foreign forces that have no stake in India's security or development.

Amarinder Singh said the whole issue was sought to be politicised by certain pro-Khalistani elements and it was unfortunate that certain Punjab leaders were lending their voice to these elements.