Won’t accept extended BSF jurisdiction: Channi

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday categorically said that his government would not accept the Centre’s decision to allow enhancement of BSF’s jurisdiction from existing 15 km to 50 km, which is against the spirit of federalism.

Addressing journalists after a Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said since law and order is a state subject, it is none of the Centre’s business to thrust its decision on Punjab, and that too without taking them in confidence. He categorically said that his government was fully competent to handle the law and order situation across the state with its own police force, adding he referred to capability and capacity of the state police force in immaculately containing the decade-long militancy in the state, thus restoring the long lasting peace, harmony and brotherhood.

Channi said that SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal was flaring up religious sentiments of the people by blowing up the sensitive issue of BSF deployment. He said Sukhbir Badal should desist from making provocative statements referring to the entry of Central forces to Sri Harmandir Sahib and other religious places. He also said that SAD president should not push back Punjab to those days of militancy by hurting religious sentiments of people in the guise of the BSF issue, as the Akali Dal was solely responsible for having misled the state’s youth to take up the path of militancy.

Channi said anyone who rakes up such sensitive issues merely for pursing his vested interests was the biggest enemy of Punjab and as well as the country. The CM said now the situation demands dispelling apprehensions from the minds of the public on this sensitive issue to chalk out a well-thought out strategy for which a special meeting of state Cabinet would be convened soon and if need be, the issue would be thoroughly discussed in an all-party meeting. However, in case the issue is not resolved, a special session of Punjab Assembly would be summoned.

On the issue of PPCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu’s letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi about action on 13-point agenda, the Chief Minister said that the state government was already working to fulfil the promises made to the people and said that every single commitment would be fulfilled in the letter and spirit. He also said that it is the duty of the state party president to keep the party high command posted about the matters concerning the state, but this does not reflect any palpable differences between the party and the government.