“Attack On Federalism”: Punjab Chief Minister Wants BSF Order Rolled Back

The centre’s reported move to empower the Border Security Force (BSF) to carry out searches and arrests over a wider belt along the borders of three states has provoked a huge controversy in Punjab, with Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, targeted by his own Congress colleagues, calling it a “direct attack on federalism”.

According to a Home Ministry order, the BSF’s jurisdiction in the border states of West Bengal, Punjab and Assam will be expanded up to 50 km from the boundary. The order suggests that the central force can arrest and carry out searches and seizures over a region where its powers could clash with those of the state police in Punjab’s Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Pathankot. The Golden Temple in Amritsar, for example, is around 35 km from the Wagah border with Pakistan.

“I strongly condemn the government’s unilateral decision to give additional powers to BSF within 50 km belt running along the international borders, which is a direct attack on the federalism. I urge the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to immediately roll back this irrational decision,” the Punjab Chief Minister tweeted amid a massive backlash in the state.

The centre’s reported move to empower the Border Security Force (BSF) to carry out searches and arrests over a wider belt in three border states has provoked a huge controversy in Punjab, with Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, targeted by his own Congress colleagues, calling it a “direct attack on federalism”.

According to a Home Ministry order, the BSF’s jurisdiction in the border states of West Bengal, Punjab and Assam will be expanded up to 50 km from the boundary, up from the current 15 km. The order suggests that the central force can arrest and carry out searches and seizures over a region where its powers could clash with those of the state police in Punjab’s Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Pathankot. The Golden Temple in Amritsar, for example, is around 35 km from the Wagah border with Pakistan.

“I strongly condemn the government’s unilateral decision to give additional powers to BSF within 50 km belt running along the international borders, which is a direct attack on the federalism. I urge the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to immediately roll back this irrational decision,” the Punjab Chief Minister tweeted amid a massive backlash in the state.

“We condemn this decision. It is an infringement on the federal structure and will create an atmosphere of fear in Punjab. People will not tolerate this,” said his deputy and Punjab Home Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa.

“Punjab has never seen communal violence. We urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to disturb the peace of the state,” Mr Randhawa added.

The Ministry of Home Affairs claims its decision was spurred by instances of weapons dropped in Punjab by drones from across the border. But the ministry has acted differently for various states; BSF jurisdiction in Gujarat has been reduced from an 80-km radius along the border to 50 km, while in Rajasthan it stays at 50 km.

Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar took a shot at the Chief Minister over the home ministry order that comes just a week after Mr Channi’s meeting with Amit Shah, in which he had called for sealing the international border to check the trafficking of drugs and weapons.

“Be careful what you ask for! Has Charanjit Channi unwittingly managed to hand over half of Punjab to the central government? 25,000 square km (out of total 50,000 square km) has now been placed under BSF jurisdiction. Punjab Police stands castigated. Do we still want more autonomy to states,” tweeted Mr Jakhar.

Sukhjinder Randhawa said the Chief Minister had never asked for it.

“He just appealed to check drug and arms supply across the border and seal it. Jakhar-sahab and I are both residents of a border area; he should not have tweeted this,” Mr Randhawa remarked.

Mr Channi’s predecessor Amarinder Singh, who exited the top post in acrimonious circumstances last month, took a different view. “Our soldiers are being killed in Kashmir. We’re seeing more and more weapons and drugs being pushed by Pakistan-backed terrorists into Punjab. BSF’s enhanced presence and powers will only make us stronger. Let’s not drag central armed forces into politics,” the captain tweeted.

The row over the centre’s move comes at a time the Congress is struggling for closure on its other problem — a sulking Navjot Sidhu, who quit as the party’s Punjab chief last month, just four months before the state polls. He has yet to take back his resignation and will meet with senior party leaders today.

Though Mr Sidhu set the stage for Mr Channi’s takeover after his rival Amarinder Singh resigned, he has been unhappy with the new Chief Minister’s choice for key posts like Attorney General, police chief and ministers.

As the Congress fights itself in Punjab, the BJP’s election “war room” held a review on Wednesday with Amit Shah for the coming elections. Though the BJP has been at a disadvantage in Punjab since its break-up with long-term ally Akali Dal, a meeting between its top leaders and Amarinder Singh suggested that it may gain from the Congress’s loss.