Punjab CM Under Fire As Centre Unilaterally Orders BSF Control Over Punjab Border
Punjab – The decision to extend Border Security Force (BSF) jurisdiction in Punjab seems to be a new tactic to deflect focus off the heroine seizure at the Adani Fort, says Congress Randeep Surjewala. Under the new ruling, BSF now has powers to carry out searches and arrests over a wider belt along the borders of the three states. The bigger issue is also how BSF control could interfere with the powers held by the state police in Punjab’s Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Pathankot. The Golden Temple in Amritsar, for example, is around 35 km from the Wagah border with Pakistan.
In a quick move last night, the Centre ordered for the BSF jurisdiction to be extended. Taking to Twitter, Mr. Surjewala has created quite a stir as he chronologicalized the events that have happened in Gujarat between June and September of this year and called this a ‘well thought out move.’
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The current leadership in Punjab is Congress while that in Gujarat is BJP. The increased periphery control comes in Assam and Bengal as well. CM Charanjeet Singh Channi in Punjab now seems to be under fire for his decision. He has received strong opposition back home over his meeting with the Centre last week, where he had gone to express his concern over better control over the international borders and movement of narcotics in vulnerable states of India.
Channi is now seeking the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to roll back the order as it is straight attack on Federalism. In another tweet, taking a hit on the newly appointed CM, Sunil Jhakar (an Indian Politician and former President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee) has said, ‘be careful what you ask for.
Has CM handed over literally half of Punjab on a platter to the Centre?’ Meanwhile, Surjewala’s tweet in indicative to creating a stir in the minds of voters, (especially) in Gujarat of drug movement in their state, and underline the Congress’ point that even with BJP leaders in the country’s two most powerful posts – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah – no action has been taken.