Bengal passes resolution against Centre's BSF move

After Punjab,the  West Bengal Assembly 0n Tuesday passed a resolution against the central government's move to expand BSF's jurisdiction to 50km from the International Border in the state. A similar resolution was tabled and passed in the Punjab Assembly on November 11.Moving the resolution under Rule 169 of the Procedures of Conduct of Business of the House, West Bengal parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee said, "We demand that this decision be withdrawn immediately as enhancing the area of jurisdiction of the BSF is a direct attack on the country's federal structure."

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said, "When the Union government tries to withdraw central forces from Junglemahal, it is the state government that opposes the move." "And now, the same government is opposing BSF activities. Under this new rule (jurisdiction extension), there is no question of conflict between the state police and the BSF," he added. In October of this year, the central government amended the Border Security Force (BSF) Act to authorize the force to undertake seizure and arrest within a larger 50 km stretch, instead of 15 km, from the international border in Assam, Punjab and West Bengal.