CHANDIGARH: The All Party Meeting convened by the Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday resolved to strongly oppose the Centre Government’s decision to extend the jurisdiction of BSF from 15 to 50 KM areas along the International border in the state constitutionally, legally and politically in order to restore the status quo that existed before the notification of October 11, 2021.
At the onset of the All Party Meeting, two-minute silence was observed in the memory of the martyr soldiers from Punjab while performing their duty in J&K to defend country’s integrity and sovereignty.
In his address, the Chief Minister said that the state government would soon convene a special session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha on this sensitive issue and recommend to the Governor to hold the session at the earliest besides the Government would also take a legal recourse by filing a petition in the Supreme Court against the unilateral decision taken by the Centre without taking the state’s consent which amounts to infringement of its constitutional rights and against the spirit of federalism.
Showing complete solidarity with the farmers on agitation at Delhi Borders to safeguard their interests, the Chief Minister also said all the three black farm laws would be outrightly rejected in the forthcoming Session of State Assembly.
After detailed deliberations with the representatives of political parties, it was decided to seek appointment from the Prime Minister so as to enable the Chief Minister to lead a delegation of all political parties to urge him to relook the decision and subsequently withdraw this contentious notification for extending the jurisdiction of BSF forthwith.
On the demand of the representatives of political parties, Channi also asked them to make use of their good offices to prevail upon the non-BJP governments and other regional parties especially in the states of West Bengal and Rajasthan adding the Chief Minister said he would also take up this issue with his counterparts to mount pressure on the Centre to roll back its decision which is a direct onslaught on the Centre-State relations.
Striking an emotional chord to make his intentions clear about this entire issue Channi said, “You can cut my veins to ascertain my passion and love for Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat and I care two hoots for the position of Chief Minister in the interest of my state and its people. Don’t consider my simplicity and humility as weakness and I assure that the congenial atmosphere of peace, harmony and brotherhood of my state would not be allowed to vitiate at any cost.”
In a unanimously adopted resolution to oppose this issue tooth and nail by the representatives of all the political parties except the BJP which abstained from the meeting. The resolution reads, “Punjab is a land of martyrs and warriors. Punjabis have made unprecedented sacrifices in the country’s freedom struggle besides the wars of 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999. The Punjabis have received the maximum gallantry awards in the country. Punjab police is the unparalleled patriotic force across the globe which has always immensely contributed to maintain the country’s integrity and sovereignty with its bravery and courage.
To maintain the law and order is the responsibility of the State Government according to the Constitution and the Punjab government is fully competent for the same. The Central Government’s decision to enhance the jurisdiction of BSF from 15 to 50 kms speaks of distrust and humiliation of Punjab police and its people. The Centre should have discussed with the state government on this issue before taking this major decision. The Centre has not yet considered it necessary to inform the state government and its people about why it has taken such a big decision. This amounts to gross infringement of the spirit of Federalism. The Centre has earlier deprived the farmers from their legitimate rights by making three black farm laws and now by extending the jurisdiction of BSF amounts to petty politics. Therefore, all the political parties present in the meeting unanimously condemned this action of Union Government and demands immediate withdrawl of the notification issued by the Home Ministry on October 11, 2021.”
Another resolution against the draconian farm laws was passed unanimously during the all party meeting which reads, Punjab is predominantly an agrarian state. The lush fields of Punjab are the main reason behind the prosperity of the state. However, one year ago, the Government of India enacted three black laws thus causing a severe blow to the farmers and agriculture of Punjab. The action is being strongly opposed since that day till today by every Punjabi with majority of the farmers and farm labourers agitating peacefully at the borders of Delhi for rollback of the draconian laws. Today, it has been more than a year since the agitation commenced and over 700 farmers have died during the period but the Government of India has not made any fruitful efforts to resolve the imbroglio. All the political parties of Punjab gathered today unanimously passed the resolution and demanded that the Union Government should immediately withdrawl the three black laws.
Earlier in his welcome address, Deputy Chief Minister who holds the portfolio of Home Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa explained about the ramifications of this unilateral decision of Central Government which has been thrusted upon the state would not only demoralize our police force but also give rise to unnecessary confrontation with BSF. He said the law and order is the state subject and Centre has not even bothered to consult us on this sensitive issue which amounts to encroachment upon the powers and roll of state by the Centre thus tinkering with the federal structure of the constitution.
Prominent amongst others who spoke on the occasion, PPCC President Navjot Singh Sidhu, AAP President Punjab Unit Bhagwant Maan, Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema, Senior Akali leader and former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former Education Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema, President SAD (Sanyukt) and Rajya Sabha Member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, President SAD (Amritsar) Simranjeet Singh Mann, former Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh, CPI (M) Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon, CPI Bant Singh Brar, TMC Punjab Unit Manjit Singh Mohali, BSP Nachhatarpal, AAP MLA Aman Arora, President Lok Insaf Party and MLA Simarjeet Singh Bains, SAD (1920) Harbans Singh and National Congress Party Gurinder Singh besides Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni, Cabinet Ministers Brahm Mohindra, Manpreet Singh Badal, Pargat Singh, Randeep Singh Nabha, Vijay Inder Singla, MLA Fatehgarh Sahib and Working President PPCC Kuljit Singh Nagra.