File photo of Army Chief General Bipin Rawat | Photo Credit: ANI

New Delhi: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said that the attempts to revive insurgency in Punjab by 'external linkages' must be acted upon and warned that if no steps are taken now, 'it would be too late'. Addressing a gathering of Army officers in a seminar on- Challenging contours of internal security in India: Trends and responses, Rawat said that though Punjab had been quiet for decades, attempts were being made by 'external outfits' to revive the insurgency in the state.

"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," Rawat was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

During his speech, Rawat also referred to a pro-Khalistan rally organised in the UK, aiming for 'Referendum 2020'. On August 12, hundreds of people had reached Trafalgar Square in London in support of Khalistan and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) had said its rally was intended to raise awareness, calling for 'independence to Punjab'- PTI cited.

The rally incited an angry response from the Indian community in London which in turn organised 'We stand with India' and 'Love my India' events, in reaction to Khalistan's 'London Declaration for a Referendum 2020'.

Speaking at the event organised by the Centre for Land and Warfare Studies (CLAWS), Rawat batted for an all-inclusive measure integrating government, civil administration, military and police, to deal with the insurgency. "The resolution of Naga insurgency can be a 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, adding that the 'external linkages' pointing towards the "northern neighbour" were active even in the northeastern state.