Slamming the Centre for the recent amendment in Section 139of the BSF Act that tantamount to an attack on federalism, the Punja CM Charanjit Singh Channi and Deputy CM SukhjinderSingh Randhawa asked the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to immediately withdrawthis decision.
Punjab CM in a tweet said, “I strongly condemn the GoI'sunilateral decision to give additional powers to BSF within 50 KM belt runningalong the international borders, which is a direct attack on the federalism. Iurge the Union Home Minister @AmitShah to immediately rollback this irrationaldecision”
In a statement, S. Randhawa, who also holds the portfolio ofHome Affairs said this illogical decision was absolutely against the spirit ofthe raising of border guarding forces, which are required to focus on theinternational border and act as the first line of defence. He said thatpolicing in the hinterland is not the role of a border guarding force, ratherit would weaken the capacity of the Border Security Force in discharging its primaryduty of guarding the international border.
The Deputy CM further said that he would soon personallycall on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shahto resolve this issue.
Meanwhile, S. Randhawa categorically said that ChiefMinister Charanjit Singh Channi has neither raised this issue with Centre norasked for enhancing the jurisdiction of BSF along with international border.
Emphasizing the need for excellent cooperation betweenCentral and State agencies, S. Randhawa said that such coordination must beenhanced with information sharing for taking prompt action to resist illegalactivities. He further said that joint operations against drugs and terroristmodules have been successfully conducted between the BSF and Punjab Police inthe past besides mechanisms for information sharing and coordination arealready in place. There are no justifiable reasons for unilaterally changingthe existing arrangements by the Government of India, except to weaken theState Government and the spirit of federalism, asserted the Deputy CM.
The above notification by the Central Government, withoutobtaining the concurrence of State Government amounts to encroachment upon thepowers and roles of States by the Centre. The Union, State and Concurrent Listsspecify the subjects under the domain of the Centre and the States. Police andlaw & order are subjects under the State List and are looked after by theStates. By conferring powers of police officers upon BSF officers without consultingState Governments or obtaining their concurrence, the Central Government isattempting to distort the federal structure of the Constitution, added DeputyCM.