Punjab Assembly passes resolution against Centre's BSF order, calls it 'insult' to state police, Amarinder opposes resolution

The House unanimously passed the resolution "rejecting" the Centre's order in the absence of the only two BJP members of the state assembly.

Chandigarh:The Punjab assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution against the Centre's notification that extended the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force, calling it an "insult" to the state police and seeking its withdrawal.

The House unanimously passed the resolution "rejecting" the Centre's order in the absence of the only two BJP members of the state assembly.

The Union government had last month amended the BSF Act to authorise the border guarding force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a 50 km stretch, up from the existing 15 km, from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.

The resolution was moved by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.

It stated that Punjab is a land of martyrs they have made exemplary sacrifices in our country's freedom struggle.

"Punjab police is a unique patriotic force which has contributed immensely in maintaining the unity and integrity of the country. As per the Constitution of India, maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the state government and for this purpose, Government of Punjab is fully competent.

"The decision of extending the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) from 15 km to 50 km by the Union Government is an expression of distrust towards the state Police and people of Punjab. This is their insult too," the resolution stated.

It further said the central government should have consulted the state before taking such a major decision, adding that the law and order situation in Punjab is totally under control and there is no need to extend the jurisdiction of BSF.

"All the political parties of Punjab have unanimously condemned the decision of Union government and have demanded that 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, " it added.

Randhawa termed the Centre's notification on extending BSF's jurisdiction an attack on the federal structure". He also said that the House members should meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue.

Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia told the House that the Congress-led government in the state should pass a decision that the Punjab Police would not co-operate with the BSF beyond 15 km.

Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi sought the support of all the political parties over this issue, saying it is a joint fight.

Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday opposed the resolution adopted by the Punjab Assembly against the Centre's move to extend the BSF's jurisdiction, saying the Union government's decision does not infringes upon the state authority.

The leader said with neighbouring Pakistan using sophisticated technology and improvised drones with a range of as much as 30 km, it is important that the Border Security Force (BSF) gets more operational jurisdiction.

"The BSF like the Punjab Police is our own force and not any external or foreign force coming to occupy our land," he said in a statement here.

"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," Amarinder Singh said opposing the resolution.

The state government should not politicise the issue of national security for "petty partisans ends and motives", he said.

The leader said apart from Punjab, the jurisdiction of the BSF is up to 50 km from the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat and West Bengal.

"Extending the operational jurisdiction of the BSF neither infringes upon the federal authority of the state nor questions the competence of the state police in maintaining law and order as some vested political interests are trying to make out," Amarinder Singh remarked.

The former chief minister said there is a huge difference between the law and order and national security.

"Unfortunately, people playing up the issue are unable to make out the difference between the law and order and the national security," he said.

PTI