Ludhiana August 1:
            Not ruling out the possibility of revival of terrorism in the state, former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh asked the government to act with added caution in the wake of arrests of many former militants recently.
“Though there is no such problem (terrorism) as of now, their (the terrorists) aim is to once again create trouble in the state. The government must deal with the issue firmly,” he told reporters here today after appearing in the sessions court in connection with the Ludhiana City Centre case. Amarinder said Pakistan and the ISI would always try to create trouble for India. “Given the situation in Pakistan, they will always try to get attention shifted to India. Hence, the need for caution,” he said.
Amarinder also asked the state to coordinate with the Centre as it was already seized of the matter. “I had met the National Security Adviser recently and discussed the issue (terrorism) with him,” he said. To a question about the alleged links of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Managing Committee president PS Sarna with some arrested Khalistani militants, Amarinder said that he did not believe the Punjab Police claims. “The Punjab Police was often being used by the Akali Government to settle personal and political scores. To get to the bottom of the truth, the probe should be handed over to an independent agency,” he said, adding that Sarna’s name was being dragged in ahead of the SGPC elections.
Amarinder strongly condemned the reported conspiracy to eliminate the head of the Radha Soami sect, as recently revealed by the Vienna Police. “It is highly condemnable and we condemn it,” he said, blaming the state government for its failure to maintain law and order. “This government has failed in maintaining law and order and the result is that we have frequent reports of terrorists and smugglers sneaking in with drugs and weapons,” he said, adding that the state needs to do a lot more on the front.
The former CM, who is awaiting his elevation as the PCC president, said that the election process was on and soon a proper organisational set up would be put in place. He also slammed allegations that the Congress had failed to serve as an effective Opposition in the last three years. “We played a responsible role all these years and we are placed comfortably to come to power in the next elections,” he said.
City Centre case adjourned: The Court of Sessions Judge SP Bangarh adjourned to August 28 the hearing in the alleged multi-crore City Centre Scam involving former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. The court heard the partial arguments advanced by Kala Navkar Jain, the lawyer of one of the former trustees of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust, against framing of charges.
The defence lawyer continued her arguments consecutively on the fifth hearing. She will continue her arguments in the next hearing. Captain Amarinder Singh, former Additional Advocate General Harpreet Sandhu, former Local Bodies Minister Choudhry Jagjit Singh, Raninder Singh, Raminder Richi and all other accused were present during the hearing