Central Government authorisation to BSF operations extended to 50 Kms from border, move rejected by Assembly of Punjab.
On Thursday, a resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly unanimously rejected the central government notification extending the normal BSF jurisdiction from the normal 15 KMS from the border to 50 KMS.
The Central Government had issued a notification to Punjab, West Bengal & Assam, all states which touch the international borders authorising BSF jurisdiction till 50 KMS, wherein BSF can undertake search, seizure & arrest within this extended range.
The Punjab Assembly rejected the central move on the note that this was an insult to the working of the Punjab Police.
The resolution was passed unanimously in the absence of two BJP members of the assembly by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
The resolution stated that Punjab has made exemplary historical & recent sacrifices for our country’s freedom struggle & also maintaining it.
It further added that the Punjab Police contribution in maintaining the integrity & unity of the country, also that constitutionally maintaining law & order is the responsibility of the state police.
The extension of BSF jurisdiction is seen as a complete distrust of state police machinery & the general public by the central government.
The resolution also added that the centre did not conduct any discussions before the decision was made, also that the law & order situation in Punjab was in good control.
According to the Punjab Assembly, there is no need to extend the BSF jurisdiction.
All political parties of Punjab have condemned the Union Government’s decision unanimously; therefore, a resolution was passed to reject the central government’s decision.
Deputy Chief Minister termed the central government decision as an attack on the federal structure, adding that the state government might move the High Court & the Supreme Court over the notification served by the central government.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the First Line of Defence was definitely with the BSF organisation, but the second Line of Defense was the responsibility of both the State Police & BSF.
Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has claimed that Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal & Majithia should have attended the All-Party meeting, which had been called last month on the centre’s notification.
Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi also said that the Akali Dal, through the RSS & BJP, had undermined the federal structure of the state, also claimed that the Akali Dal Chief had also supported the undemocratic move of revoking Article 370.
He further said that he had no role play in the central government’s decision to extend the jurisdiction of the BSF 50 km from the International border.
Former Chief Capt. Amarinder Singh & Prakash Singh Badal were not present during the resolution.
Akali Dal & AAP MLA’s had earlier staged a walkout on not being allowed to raise another political issue of the state.