Chandigarh: The Centre’s decision to extend the BSF’s jurisdiction in Punjab, among other states, has set a war of words between former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and state minister Pargat Singh.
Pargat Singh has slammed former chief minister, who voiced his support for the Centre’s move and said that it will “only make us stronger”.
Hitting back at Pargat Singh, Capt Amarinder accused him and Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu of ‘cooking up ridiculous stories for cheap publicity’.
“This is the height of irresponsibility from a state minister. You and @sherryontopp are clearly birds of the same feather, with nothing better to do than cook up ridiculous stories for cheap publicity,” Capt Amarinder’s media adviser Raveen Thukral tweeted on former CM’s behalf.
Dubbing Amarinder Singh’s statement as unfortunate, Pargat Singh had said, “He acts like he is with the BJP.”
With this order, Pargat Singh claimed, half of Punjab will come under the BSF’s control.
The Centre wants to “later show Punjab as a disturbed state and push for the imposition of Governor’s rule”, he alleged.
Capt Amarinder Singh to blame for more powers to BSF: Pargat Singh
Dissent within the Congress over increasing BSF powers in the state came to fore with Cabinet Minister Pargat Singh, a confidant of PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, saying former CM Capt Amarinder Singh was hand-in-glove with the BJP.
He said the development smacked of a “design to impose Governor’s rule in the state by tagging it as a  disturbed state”.
His statement came on the day when CM Charanjit Singh Channi called upon the former CM, along with his wife, newly-wed son and daughter-in-law, at the latter’s Siswan farmhouse.
Shortly after Channi returned, Capt Amarinder hit back at Pargat Singh, saying: “This is the height of irresponsibility on the part of a minister. You and Sidhu are clearly birds of the same feather, with nothing better to do than cook up ridiculous stories for cheap publicity.”
Addressing the media today, Pargat said: “What is Capt sahib trying to prove? I always said he is with the BJP. Earlier, when he went to Delhi and met Home Minister Amit Shah, paddy procurement was delayed by 10 days and now when he has gone to Delhi again, BSF’s jurisdiction has been increased.”
A bête noire of Capt Amarinder, Pargat Singh said: “Captain sahib, please do not do this. We respect you a lot. The BJP should also understand that they cannot let Punjab become a disturbed state. It seems they want to impose Governor’s rule. I want to tell them that we will not allow the BJP to be successful in its designs.”AGENCIES