Powers to BSF: Parkash Singh Badal calls for joint fight against Centre’s diktat

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15

Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called upon all political parties in the state “to stop fighting among themselves and wage a united fight against Centre’s move to turn Punjab into a UT through the backdoor by handing it over to the central security forces like the BSF”.

“This move will further weaken the already endangered federal structure of the country and will reduce the state government to the status of municipality. This will be a severe blow to the pride and dignity of Punjabis,” said Badal.

In a statement, Badal said: “If we don’t stop our mutual fights for petty stakes, the Centre will merrily take advantage of our weaknesses. Tomorrow, we will all repent, having no powers left to solve the problems of the people. There will be nothing left.”

Badal said there was a strong ground to believe the Centre might be preparing to rob the state of its legitimate rights on its river waters. “They might be conspiring to use this drastic new step to crush the farmers’ movement.”

The SAD patron said his party would not stand on prestige and would join or follow any other party willing to lead the fight. “The SAD wants no political limelight and will humbly cooperate with all other parties in a collective endeavou r to safeguard Punjab’s interests. In fact, safeguarding Punjab’s interests is in the best overall interest of the country as we are the sword arm of the nation.”

Describing Centre’s decision to place almost half of Punjab under the BSF a “dangerous move”, Badal said it would mark a return to the period when the state was declared a disturbed area.

“By giving sweeping powers to the BSF, the Centre has rendered Punjab Police irrelevant. I am afraid we are back into the era of midnight knocks and searches of homes by security forces without valid orders or prior notice,” he said.

Badal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to rub salt into the already deep and festering emotional wounds of Punjabis by humiliating them through the denial of their basic democratic and federal right to manage their affairs through their own elected representatives instead of being run from Delhi.