AAP holds protest over enhancing BSF powers in border areas

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 18

The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday held a protest against the recent increase in the powers of the BSF and termed it detrimental to the rights of the states and the federal structure of the country.

Members of the Aam Aadmi Party held a protest outside the DC office in Jalandhar and burnt effigies of both the state CM and the PM in protest over the issue.

The protest was over increased jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) to give its officers the powers of arrest, search and seizure to the extent of 50 km from the border in the states of Punjab, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura. The BSF previously had similar jurisdiction to take action over only 15 km of this area.

AAP mahila wing president Rajwinder Kaur and district rural president Principal Prem Kumar termed CM Punjab Charanjit Singh Channi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as equally responsible for the decision. They said the decision was announced a few days after Channi met the HM and demanded strictness from the Centre to curb the increasing incidents of illegal trafficking of drugs and weapons from across the international border. They said Channi opened way for the Centre’s increased powers over 50 per cent of the state by doing so.

Rajwinder Kaur questioned the CM, “He should tell as per which deal has he handed over much of Punjab to the Centre and opened way for indirect President’s rule in the state.”

AAP leaders Darshan Bhagat, Dr Shiv Dyal Mali, Sr Sanjeev Sharma, Harcharan Singh Sandhu, IS Bagga, Subhash Sharma, Indervansh Singh Chaddha, Sanjeev Bhagat, Ajay Bhagat among others were present on the occasion.