The Punjab chief minister rued that the states had inadequate funds and power to deal with issues concerning the border. He also accused the Centre of shying away from taking responsibility on such matters.
Amid reports that Sikh militant groups from abroad were trying to bring back militancy in Punjab, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal today demanded that additional Central forces should be made available to the state to strengthen the security situation.
"The areas adjacent (Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan) to Punjab are disturbed. The central government is not taking any reponsibility...RDX comes from across the border. The border must be properly sealed and forces must be made available to strengthen the situation in the state," the chief minister told reporters here.
Badal said that he had intimated the home minister on this matter on several occasions and sought for the Centre's help in tackling the situation.
On a media report that Punjab police chief PS Gill had written to the home ministry informing it that terrorists wanted in Punjab had set up base in Malaysia and were not only sending arms and explosives but also men to carry out strikes, Badal said that he had told the DGP that such reports only create panic among the people and that police officers should not "leak" information to the media.
The chief minister said that he had advised the DGP to take up the matter with the Centre.
"Despite disturbances in neighbouring states and the country, Punjab has been largely peaceful," he said.
He rued that the states had inadequate funds and power to deal with issues concerning the border. He also accused the Centre of shying away from taking responsibility on such matters.
On being asked that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has been adopting an "appeasement policy towards hardliners" in the wake of upcoming SGPC polls, Badal said that all those who were willing to follow the policies and programmes of his party were welcome.
Badal said he was also not averse to hardliners like Jasvir Singh Rode and Manjit Singh joining the Akali fold. "Those who shun violence are welcome to join the party fold as SAD believes in the policy of non-violence," he said.
To a question on the accident involving railway minister Mamata Banerjee, who suffered injuries, on August 9, Badal claimed that the truck driver hailing from Mauran village in Sangrur district appears to be innocent and has not done such an act "deliberately."
He said that the government was prepared to provide legal assistance to the family of the truck driver Gurjant Singh, who had been booked by West Bengal police for attempt on Banerjee's life.
"I will also speak on the issue with the West Bengal DGP," Badal said.
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