Punjab Congress leader Pargat Singh has lashed out at former state Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for supporting Home Minister Amit Shah’s controversial decision to expand the BSF powers beyond the paramilitary force’s border duty. Singh said that the former chief minister’s support to the Modi government conclusively proved that he was with the BJP.
“I’ve always said Captain is with BJP only. Earlier he went to Delhi to make delay in paddy procurement & now this… If you’re deploying BSF in Punjab it shows your motive to impose governor rule,” Pargat Singh was quoted by news agency ANI.
I've always said Captain is with BJP only. Earlier he went to Delhi to make delay in paddy procurement & now this… If you're deploying BSF in Punjab it shows your motive to impose governor rule…: Punjab Congress Pargat Singh on Centre extending BSF jurisdiction in the state pic.twitter.com/NV5fvUJYmj
— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2021
Reacting to the Modi government’s decision to expand the BSF powers up to 50 kms from the border, Amarinder Singh had said, “Our soldiers are being killed in Kashmir. We’re seeing more & more weapons & drugs being pushed by Pak-backed terrorists into Punjab. BSF’s enhanced presence & powers will only make us stronger. Let’s not drag central armed forces into politics.”
The Modi government’s decision had triggered a huge political storm with Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi calling it an attack on the federal structure of India. Channi had tweeted, “I strongly condemn the GoI’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 @AmitShah to immediately rollback this irrational decision.”
I strongly condemn the GoI'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 @AmitShah to immediately rollback this irrational decision.
— Charanjit S Channi (@CHARANJITCHANNI) October 13, 2021
Pargat Singh was the only Congress leader attacking Amarinder Singh. Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala too asked why Amarinder Singh was silent on the need to expand the BSF powers when he was the state’s chief minister if he felt so strongly about the national security.
Amarinder Singh replied, “How ridiculous! You mean I’m dictating @HMOIndia decisions now not just in Punjab but also in Gujarat, WB, Assam, etc? A person who couldn’t win an election in his own state has frankly no right to speak on national issues.”
Amarinder Singh had to resign following a feud with his former cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was appointed as the Punjab Congress chief by the central leadership of his party.
