Sukhbir, other Akali leaders protest, detained briefly
CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, along with party leaders and workers were taken into preventive custody on way to the Raj Bhawan here on Thursday while they were protesting against the Centre’s decision to extend BSF’S jurisdiction. They were taken to a police station and later released.
“The manner in which chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi has colluded with the Centre to surrender half of the state is condemnable,” Sukhbir said while addressing the party cadres outside the governor house.
Former ministers Bikram Singh Majithia, Daljit Singh Cheema and Surjit Singh Rakhra, MLA NK Sharma and youth Akali Dal president Parambans Singh Romana also courted arrest. Akali workers raised slogans against the Congress party and the BJP for hatching “antipunjab” conspiracy.
Earlier, addressing a gathering when stopped from proceeding towards the Raj
Bhawan, Sukhbir said this was the second time that the Centre impinged on the rights of Punjab after three farm laws enacted last year. Now, it is taking control of the law and order in half the state,” he added.
Don’t politicise issues of national security: BJP Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma on Thursday condemned opposition parties for criticising the Union government’s decision to extend the jurisdiction of the BSF. He said the national security was of utmost importance and leaders should refrain from politicising the issue.
In a statement, Sharma said the incidents of drones, tiffin bombs and drug trafficking had increased immensely in the border state and former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh had gone on record repeatedly that Punjab, being a border state, was being targeted by Pakistan .