- By Shubham Bajpai
- Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:43 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Sunday made shocking revelations that some pro-Khalistan elements, linked to jailed radical preacher Amritpal Singh's 'Waris Punjab De' outfit, were conspiring to assassinate him and other political leaders in Punjab.
He claimed that the assassination plot was exposed through leaked screenshots of a chat on social media platforms. In a statement, Bittu said that the Centre has taken a serious note of the conspiracy hatched by the members of 'Waris Punjab De'.
He warned that activities of such groups were pushing the state towards instability reminiscent of its dark past.
The purported screenshot of the WhatsApp chat revealed its members' intention to target Bittu and Home Minister Amit Shah after the detention of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh under the National Security Act for another year.
It must be noted that the Punjab government has extended the detention by one more year. Amritpal, 32, is currently lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail. After his arrest on April 23, 2025, he was put in detention under the NSA.
On Sunday, Amritpal's father, Tarsem Singh, slammed the Bhagwant Mann government for extending his son's detention under the NSA.
The radical preacher, who styled himself after dead Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested in Moga's Rode village on April 23, 2023 following more than a month-long manhunt.
Meanwhile, Bittu targeted Mann's government for having a "lenient stance" towards criminal elements masquerading as political activists.
"The Centre will not allow anti-national forces to destabilise Punjab," Mr Bittu said.
He recalled his grandfather and former Punjab CM Beant Singh's assassination and reaffirmed his commitment to keep peace in the state. He said, "My grandfather (Beant Singh) laid down his life for peace in Punjab. I come from a family of martyrs and I am not intimidated by extremist threats. I will not allow Punjab to descend into darkness again. Those behind this conspiracy will face the consequences."