The Punjab assembly today unanimously passed a resolution against the Centre’s orders that extended the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force in Punjab, calling it an “insult” to the State police and sought its immediate withdrawal.
Punjab Home Minister, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said, “The decision of extending the jurisdiction of BSF from 15 KM to 50 KM by the Union Government is an expression of distrust towards the State Police and the People of Punjab. This is their insult too”.
He said that the Union Government should have consulted the State Government before taking such a major decision. “The law and order situation in Punjab is totally under control. And there is no need to extend the jurisdiction of BSF. This is a gross violation of the spirit of federalism enshrined in the Constitution of India”.
“Extending the jurisdiction of BSF is also symbolic of petty politics. All the political parties of Punjab have unanimously condemned this decision of Union Government and have demanded the Union Government should withdraw notification dated 11.10.2021 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Therefore, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha unanimously resolves that a resolution rejecting the notification of the Central Government in this regard may be passed”, he added.
Meanwhile, rejecting the Punjab government resolution moved in the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday against the proposed move of the Centre to extend the operational jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) from 15 km to 50 km, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh asked the state government not to politicise the issue of national security for petty partisans ends and motives.
"The operational jurisdiction of the BSF concerns national security and not the law and order in the state, which the current powers that be in Punjab are apparently not able to understand," he remarked in a statement here.
He pointed out that it is not only Punjab, but the states like Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and others where the BSF jurisdiction is 50 kms inside the international border.
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Moreover, he added, with Pakistan using sophisticated
technology and highly improvised drones with a range of as much as 30 km, it is
important that the BSF gets more operational jurisdiction.