The decision of the centre government to increase thejurisdiction of Border Security Force (BSF) in Punjab has not gone down wellwith many politicians including Punjab CM, Deputy CM and even Shiromani AkaliDal (SAD) leaders, who have termed the move an attack on federalism.
Even though the Congress in Punjab had asked the UnionHome Minister Amit Shah to immediately withdraw this decision, saying it’sagainst the spirit of the raising of border guarding forces, the former hockeyOlympian and Cabinet minister Pargat Singh on Thursday alleged former ChiefMinister Captain Amarinder Singh’s role behind the move.
Talking to the media, Pargat Singh targeted both BJP andCapt Amarinder, and said that the former CM was always with the saffron party,and is now trying to portray Punjab as a disturbed state.
Pargat Singh said that earlier when Capt Amarinder wentto Delhi and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, paddy procurement was delayedby 10 days and now when he has gone to Delhi again, BSF’s jurisdiction has beenincreased.
"If you're deploying BSF in Punjab it shows yourmotive to impose governor rule." Citing upcoming assembly elections hesaid, "I want to appeal to the Union Home Minister to not take Punjab indifferent directions for the 2022 and 2024 elections. We will not allow anyoneto make Punjab communal," news agency ANI quoted Pargat Singh as saying.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Capt Amarinder extended hissupport to the centre’s decision and urged people not to drag central armedforces into politics. “Our soldiers are being killed in Kashmir. We’re seeingmore & more weapons & drugs being pushed by Pak-backed terrorists intoPunjab. BSF’s enhanced presence & powers will only make us stronger. Let’snot drag central armed forces into politics," Capt Amarinder’s mediaadviser tweeted.
However, expressing disagreement with former CM’sstatement on BSF power stretch, Sunil Jakhar said, “We are proud of oursecurity forces which are meant to secure our borders and protect India fromforeign aggressors. Using them to cover up the failures & to clean up themess created by leaders & govts is very alarming”.
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“It not only denigrates our brave forces but alsoadversely affects their morale, discipline & preparedness. It’s this use ofour forces as a political tool which should be avoided. No one knows it betterthan @capt_amarinder Singh ji. I visited BSF officers when Akalis were makingthem scapegoats for their govt’s failures 2014,” Jakhar tweeted.