Ludhiana, Punjab (November 27, 2012): Government of India has again alleged that Sikh militant groups based abroad are trying to revive militancy in Punjab.
Press Information Bureau, Government of India, has issued a release November 27, 2012 that is read as follows:
Revival of Terrorism in Punjab Available reports suggest that Sikh Militant groups especially those based abroad, continue to persist with their efforts to revive militancy in Punjab. In countries where such activities have been noticed, Government of India has taken up the matter at the level of Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs), Ministerial meetings and Joint Working Groups on Counter Terrorism, sensitizing these Governments about India’s security concerns. The Government has adopted an integrated approach to counter such attempts which, inter-alia include sustained vigilance along the borders, strengthening of mechanisms for intelligence gathering and sharing; modernization and up-gradation of police and security forces with advanced/sophisticated weapons. A close watch is maintained on the activities of various groups known to have been engaged in trying to foment terrorist activities in Punjab. In addition, pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits namely, Babbar Khalsa International, International Sikh Youth Federation, Khalistan Commando Force and Khalistan Zindabad Force continue to be listed as Terrorist Organizations in the schedule to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004. This was stated by Shri R.P.N.Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs in written reply to a question by Sh. Hari Manjhi, Shri D.B. Chandre Gowda, Shri Abdul Rahman and Shri Ramesh Bais in the Lok Sabha today. **** KSD/Samir (Release ID :89575)
Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) consulted some political observers who were of the view that the Indian state is attempting to contain the political activism of Sikh diaspora, and these claims are nothing but efforts to defame the Sikh diaspora activism.
It is notable that the statement is so drafted that the terms “militancy” and “terrorism” are used interchangeably.