Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Wednesday slammed the Centre for the recent amendment in Section 139 of the BSF Act, terming it as an attack on federalism and asked the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to immediately withdraw this decision.
In a statement, Randhawa, who also holds the portfolio of Home Affairs said this “illogical decision was absolutely against the spirit of the raising of border guarding forces, which are required to focus on the international border and act as the first line of defence.”
He said that policing in the hinterland is not the role of a border guarding force, rather it would weaken the capacity of the Border Security Force in discharging its primary duty of guarding the international border.
The Deputy CM further said that he would soon personally call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister to resolve this issue.
Meanwhile, Randhawa categorically said that Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has neither raised this issue with Centre nor asked for enhancing the jurisdiction of BSF along with international border.
Emphasizing the need for excellent cooperation between Central and State agencies, Randhawa said that such coordination must be enhanced with information sharing for taking prompt action to resist illegal activities.