Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Mondaycategorically said that his government will not accept the Centre’s decision toallow enhancement of BSF’s jurisdiction from existing 15 km to 50 km, which isagainst the spirit of federalism.
Addressing the media persons immediately after theCabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said since law and order situation is thesubject of state and it is none of Centre’s business to thrust this decision onPunjab even without taking them in confidence. He categorically said that hisgovernment was fully competent to handle the law and order situation across thestate with its own police force adding he referred to capability and capacityof state police force in immaculately containing the decade long militancy inthe state thus restoring the long lasting peace, harmony and brotherhood.
Slamming the SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal forflaring up the religious sentiments of people by blowing the sensitive issue ofBSF’s deployment beyond its jurisdiction, Channi urged him to desist frommaking provocative statements referring to the entry of Central forces to SriHarmandir Sahib and other religious places. He also asked the SAD President notto push Punjab in those back days of militancy by hurting religious sentimentsof people in the guise of BSF issue, as Akali Dal was solely responsible forhaving misled the state’s youth to take up the path of militancy.
Making an oblique reference to Sukhbir for his offensivenarrative on this count, Channi said anyone who rakes up such sensitive issuesmerely for pursing his vested interests was the biggest enemy of Punjab and aswell as the Country.
Channi said now the situation demands to dispelapprehensions from the minds of public on this sensitive issue to chalk out awell thought strategy for which a special meeting of state Cabinet would beconvened soon and if need be the issue would be thoroughly discussed in an allparty meeting. However, in case the issue is not resolved a special session ofPunjab Vidhan Sabha would be summoned.
Pointing out further, the Chief Minister said that therequisite land would be soon provided to the Centre after acquiring it from thefarmers by giving them suitable compensation for the much needed Patti-Makhurail link to boost economic activity in the region.
On the issue of PPCC President Navjot Singh Sidhu’sletter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi about action on 13 point agenda, theChief Minister apprised that the State Government is already working to fulfillthe promises made to the people and assured that every single commitment wouldbe fulfilled in the letter and spirit. He also said that it is the duty of theState Party President to keep the party high command appraised about thematters concerning the state but this does not reflect any palpable differencesbetween the party and the government.
On a query about the status of contractual employees,Channi said that the State Government is already in the process to finalize thepolicy in this regard to safeguard the interest of such employees.
Among others present on the occasion included the DeputyChief Ministers Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and O.P. Soni besides CabinetMinisters Manpreet Singh Badal, Aruna Chaudhary, Vijay Inder Singla and PargatSingh.