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'Conspiracy': TMC, Congress hit out at Centre's move to extend BSF jurisdiction

The Congress linked the move to the reported Rs20,000 crore drug bust at Adani Port

BSF-border-security-binoculars-twitter Representational image | BSF Twitter

Opposition parties Congress and the Trinamool Congress hit out at the Centre over its decision to extend the jurisdiction of the Border Security Forces (BSF), with the former alleging a conspiracy to cover up the recent reported drug bust at the Mundra Adani Port. The TMC on Thursday said it was an "infringement" on the rights of the state and an attack on the federal structure of the country. The Centre had issued a notification extending the jurisdiction of the BSF. The notification empowers the BSF to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a 50km stretch, instead of the existing 15km, from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. Demanding its withdrawal, the TMC claimed the decision was taken without consulting the West Bengal government.

"We oppose this decision. This is an infringement on the rights of the state. What was the sudden need to enhance the BSF's jurisdiction without informing the state government?" TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said. "If the BSF has to conduct any search, they can always do it along with the state police. This has been the practice for years. It is an attack on the federal structure," he added. Senior TMC MP Sougata Roy alleged that the BSF doesn't have a good track record on human rights in border villages.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala led the Congress attack against the move, claiming that the move was a conspiracy to cover up the reported Rs20,000 crore drug bust at Adani Port. "The Chronology: 25,000kg of heroin came through Adani Port, Gujarat on 9/6/2021; 3,000kg of heroin caught at Adani Port, Gujarat on 13/9/2021; BSF jurisdiction unilaterally increased from 15km to 50km in Punjab. Federalism Dead, Conspiracy Clear," he tweeted.

The Punjab government had taken strong exception to the Centre's move, dubbing it as an "attack on federalism". "I strongly condemn the GoI's unilateral decision to give additional powers to BSF within 50km 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," Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi tweeted. 

"This virtually turns the state into a de facto Union Territory. This devious attempt to place the state directly under the central rule must and will be opposed," Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljit Singh Cheema said.

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