‘Won’t accept decision to extend BSF jurisdiction’

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday said his government “will not accept” the Centre’s decision to increase BSF’s jurisdiction from existing 15 km to 50 km along the international border with Pakistan. The decision was against the spirit of federalism, he added.
“The Punjab cabinet has taken a serious view of the Centre’s move. We will soon convene a cabinet meeting to evolve a consensus on the issue. If need be, we will hold an all-party meeting as it is not an issue of one party. If the issue is not resolved, holding a special session of the assembly to oppose the move can also be considered,” Channi told mediapersons.
Law and order was a state subject and the Centre could not thrust this decision on Punjab, without even taking them in confidence, the CM added. He said his government was fully competent to handle the law and order situation across the state with its own police force. He referred to “capability and capacity of state police force in immaculately containing the decade-long militancy in the state, thus restoring the long-lasting peace, harmony and brotherhood”.
Accusing SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal of “flaring up the religious sentiments” of people by blowing the sensitive issue of BSF’s deployment, Channi urged him to desist from making provocative statements referring to the entry of armed forces into Sri Harmandir Sahib and other religious places. He also asked the Akali Dal chief not to push Punjab in back days of militancy by hurting religious sentiments of people in the guise of BSF issue, and alleged SAD was solely responsible for having misled the state’s youth to take up the path of militancy.
Making an oblique reference to Sukhbir for his offensive narrative on this count, Channi said anyone who rakes up such sensitive issues merely for pursuing his vested interests was the biggest enemy of Punjab and as well as the country.
On another decision, Channi said the requisite land would soon be provided to the Centre after acquiring it from the farmers by giving them suitable compensation for the much needed Patti-Makhu rail link to boost economic activity in the region.
On a query about the status of contractual employees, Channi said that the state government was already in the process to finalise the policy in this regard to safeguard the interest of such employees.