Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 18
Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi today said the government would not accept the Centre’s decision to enhance the BSF’s jurisdiction from the existing 15 km to 50 km, which was against the spirit of federalism.
The Chief Minister said the situation demanded to dispel apprehensions on the issue and chalk out a strategy for which a special Cabinet meeting would be convened soon and, if need be, it would be discussed at an all-party meeting. However, in case the issue was not resolved, a special session of the Vidhan Sabha would be summoned.
Addressing the media, Channi said the law and order situation was the subject of state and the central government could not thrust this decision on Punjab even without taking them into confidence.
Referring to the state police force’s ability to contain the decade-long militancy in the state, he said the Punjab Government was fully competent to handle the law and order situation with its own police force.
Slamming SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal for flaring up religious sentiments by blowing the issue of BSF’s deployment beyond its jurisdiction, Channi urged him to desist from making provocative statements. He also asked Sukhbir not to push Punjab to the days of militancy by hurting religious sentiments of people in the guise of the Border Security Force issue.
Extension of BSF jurisdiction attack on federalism, won’t accept it: Punjab CM
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