"Political Game, State Within State": Navjot Sidhu On More Areas To BSF

Punjab Congress chief Mr Sidhu alleged that central institutions were being politicised and chief ministers being arm-twisted by the Centre.

Punjab Chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu attacked the Centre government on Monday on the issue of expanding the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Punjab. Mr Channi called it an "infringement on federalism", while Mr Sidhu accused the union government of weakening the federal structure by "creating a state within a state".

The state CM alleged that he had sought an appointment from Prime Minister Narendra Modi but "never received a response". The two leaders were speaking at an all-party meeting chaired by Mr Channi on Monday. Representatives from all state parties except the BJP, including Shiromani Akali Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, and Lok Insaaf Party attended the meeting.

A resolution was passed in the all-party meeting saying they rejected the Centre's order on BSF jurisdiction. The CM said that a special session of the state assembly would be held on the issue if the Centre didn't respond and the state would approach the Supreme Court if their concerns were not acknowledged. The meeting also touched upon the contentious farm laws that have seen prolonged protests by farmers. "In the assembly session, we will yet again pass a resolution rejecting the three farm laws passed by the Centre," the CM said. 

Mr Sidhu attacked the union government, accusing it of "substituting" the state police instead of creating coordination between the state police and the BSF. "It's a political game. I am questioning the timing of the decision. Where is the state's consent?" he said. He further alleged that central institutions were being politicised and chief ministers being arm-twisted by the Centre.