Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday expressed concern over attempts to “revive insurgency” in Punjab and Assam through "external linkages" and warned if early action is not taken it will be too late. 

Asserting that insurgency cannot be dealt with military force, he favoured adopting an approach in which all agencies, the Government, civil administration, Military and police work in an "integrated manner."

Airing these views here in a seminar on 'Changing Contours of Internal Security in India: Trends and Responses,' he said attempts are being made through "external linkages" to "revive insurgency" in Punjab and Assam through "external abetment."

"Punjab has been peaceful but because of these external linkages, attempts again are being made to revive insurgency in the State," he said, adding, "we have to be very careful." "Let us not think that Punjab (situation) is over. We cannot close our eyes to what is happening in Punjab. And, if we do not take early action now, it will be too late," he said. Punjab saw one of the worst phases of insurgencies in the 1980s.

Former Uttar Pradesh police chief Prakash Singh also highlighted the issue and referred to a pro-Khalistan rally organised recently in the UK aiming for a 'Referendum 2020.' Hundreds of people had turned out at Trafalgar Square in London on August 12 in support of a pro-Khalistan rally as well as to counter the event with an Independence Day celebrations.

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) had said its rally was intended to raise awareness for a non-binding referendum in 2020, calling for Punjab to be granted independence. The "We Stand With India" and "Love My India" events were organised by Indian diaspora groups as a reaction to the pro-Khalistan "London Declaration for a Referendum 2020".

Touching upon the issue of internal security, the Army Chief said threat to internal security is one of the biggest problems in the country, but question is "why we have not been able to find a solution, because it has external linkages." Asserting that insurgency cannot be dealt with Military force, he pitched for adopting an approach in which all agencies, the Government, civil administration, military and police work in an "integrated manner."

The resolution of Naga insurgency can be forerunner to the Manipur insurgency situation. There are some linkages between the two. But, if that resolution does not satisfy Manipuris then the insurgency  in that State will take a different turn, Rawat said.