Slamming the opposition parties for "politicizing" the issue of Pathankot terror attack, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that sensitive issues involving national security must be spared from cheap politics.
On the sidelines of the state government's Sangat Darshan programme in Rajasansi assembly segment here, the Chief Minister said that it was unfortunate that the political leadership was making "baseless statements" on the terror attack.
"Our brave soldiers have valiantly protected honour of the country but some political outfits were washing dirty linen on it for sake of vested interests, which is shameful," Badal said.
He said there were a number of issues for political leaders to debate but they must at least spare such issues where nation's security was concerned.
The Opposition, including the Congress and AAP have criticised the SAD-BJP government's handling of last week's terror attack on the IAF base in Pathankot.
While state Congress chief Amarinder Singh described the state government's response during the last two attacks in Dina Nagar and Pathankot as "casual and disappointing", AAP noted that the "nexus" of Akali leaders, drug peddlers and militants resulted in the militant attack at Pathankot.
Reiterating the state government's firm commitment to help the bereaved families of security personnel killed in the Pathankot attack, Badal said that every effort would be made to bail out the families from the crisis.
He said that the state government had already decided to provide a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to next of kin of the martyrs along with a government job as a humble tribute to the brave soldiers.
The Chief Minister said that he had asked the Centre to beef up the security at the borders to prevent cross-border terrorism.
He said that it was the need of the hour to ensure that incidents like Dinanagar and Pathankot do not happen again.
Badal added that his government was fully committed for preserving peace and amity in the state and no one would be allowed to disturb it.
To a question on involvement of Salwinder Singh, Punjab
SP, who was allegedly abducted by terrorists involved in Pathankot attack, Badal said he is under scanner, probe is going on and he will have to pay for it if his role is found out.
He said Punjab police was quick to report the presence of terrorists at 7 or 7.30 PM. "We were the first one to inform military intelligence that terrorist have been spotted," he said.
"I do not want to get into the details. We had informed the right agencies. 3.30 AM the incident took place, we were able to identify where people went and our operation had started. Even a very high official from government of India called me up and appreciated the role of Punjab police in the whole episode," he said.
Six terrorists, who had sneaked into the country from Pakistan, had attacked Indian Air Force base in Pathankot during the intervening night of January 1 and 2.
They were killed during a counter-operation by Indian forces that lasted for about three days in which seven security personnel were killed.
Asked whether he was in favour of the scheduled Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, he said that the central government will decide it.
"First of all, I want to tell media that it should not advise on foreign policy. Leave this to the government which knows what is right at right time. Our Prime Minister has done a wonderful work in foreign policy," said Badal, whose party Shiromani Akali Dal is BJP's ally.
The Deputy Chief Minister said there is a need to check drug terrorism in India by Pakistan.
"Since Pakistan is involved in drug terrorism against India we need to have internal audit of certain person. Today only we have caught two BSF personnel who were involved in drug trade. We need to increase the manpower there," he said.
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Badal said although "the BSF and other forces tasked with the sensitive responsibility of blocking infiltration of hostile elements including terrorists had always stood up to the challenge in the most commendable manner yet there have been instances that left something to be desired so that the border is not breached, as it had been done by highly trained terrorists who attacked Dinanagar and now Pathankot."
Badal said the numerical strength of the BSF and other forces has proved to be inadequate and insufficient to deal with the rising specter of cross-border terrorism.
Giving details of the meeting between Badal and Singh, Harcharan Bains, Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, said the deputy chief minister had on several occasions in the past repeatedly emphasised the need for a complete re-look at the internal security capabilities of various central and state government agencies and forces.
"Sukhbir has always felt and said at national platforms that the dividing line between internal and external security has vanished in view of the new and highly developed technology which terrorists all over the world have accessed.
"Sukhbir had personally highlighted to P Chidambaram when the latter was the Home Minister of the country the various inadequacies and weaknesses in weaponry, strategic training and availability and access to the state-of-the-art counter-terror technology including the highly sophisticated communications gadgetry to remain one step ahead of the terrorists with superior intelligence," Bains said.
Bains said Sukhbir had been demanding increase in central budgetary layout on modernisation of police and paramilitary force.
"Police modernisation budget is abysmal at the present and does not reflect the deadly nature of the threats posed to the country from terrorism. This budgetary outlay needed to be enhanced manifold," he said.
Meanwhile, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh to direct the CBI to expedite the probe into the recent cases of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in the state.
"This must be deemed a national priority as it involves the profound and sacred sentiments of millions of people all over the world, Sikhs as well as all right thinking people in every community everywhere," Badal told Singh.
