Modi's twin action plan in Punjab
NIA may act against Amritpal Singh who threatened Amit Shah
The Modi government is giving final touches to its action plan in Punjab after a public threat issued by Amritpal Singh, head of “Waris Punjab De” an aggressive outfit, to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He said that he would meet the same fate as that of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Reports emanating from those handling national security indicate that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) may register a case against the 29-year-old preacher under the stringent UAPA law. The anti-terror agency needs no permission from any state government before acting in terror-related cases. Some of the supporters of Amritpal Singh brandished swords and guns stormed a police station in Ajnala last week and took away the main accused Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan. The Punjab police later quashed the FIR itself.
Amritpal Singh, who claims to be a follower of Bhindranwale, moves around with armed men and his supporters call him 'Bhindranwale 2.0'. But this time, he seems to have crossed the line by threatening the Union Home Minister by name. The Centre doesn't want to act in a hurry and wait for the right time to strike.
The Union Home Ministry will press its own anti-terror agency (NIA) if the state government doesn't act within a reasonable time frame.
Before acting against Amritpal Singh, the BJP leadership also wants to launch a fresh political drive in Punjab as part of this strategy. The top BJP leadership including PM Modi, Amit Shah and party chief J P Nadda among others will launch a massive public awareness drive called “Nasha Mukti Yatra” in Punjab. The BJP leadership is focusing on the failure of the AAP government in Punjab to fight drug menace and hobnobbing with anti-national elements. If Kejriwal is on the back foot in Delhi due to liquor scam, Mann is facing Amritpal Singh Waterloo.
