‘External Linkages’ Reviving Insurgency In Punjab; Action Imperative Before It’s Too Late, Says Army Chief Bipin Rawat

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, while speaking at a seminar on ‘Changing Contours of Internal Security in India: Trends and Responses’ on Saturday (3 November) warned that attempts are being made through 'external linkages' to revive insurgency in Punjab and said that "if early action is not taken, it will be too late", reports Hindustan Times.

He was addressing a group of senior Army officers, defence experts and former senior officials of government and the police. Rawat also said that similar attempts were being made to revive insurgency in Assam too.

“Punjab has been peaceful, but because of these external linkages, attempts again are being made to revive insurgency in the state,” warned the General.

Punjab saw one of the worst phases of insurgencies during the pro-Khalistan movement in the 1980s, which was eventually silenced by the government.

Apart from the army chief, former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Prakash Singh had also raised concerns on the issue and agreed to the Army Chief's statements . Here, he referred to a pro-Khalistan rally organised recently in the UK aiming for a ‘Referendum 2020’.

Internal security remains one of the most significant challenges in the country, and external linkages often make it difficult to arrive at a solution.

Asserting that insurgency cannot only be tackled through military force, he pitched for adopting an approach in which all agencies, the government, the civil administration, the army and the police should work in tandem and follow an integrated approach.

He also mentioned the role of the 'Northern Neighbour' when he explained the 'external abetment' threat.