Punjab to demand sensitive status for border shared with Pakistan

Bathinda: Punjab government will demand from the Centre, sensitive status for border of the state shared with Pakistan, and deployment of more BSF battalions for guarding international borders, its Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday said.

Seeking "thick security cover" on Indo-Pak border on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir, Sukhbir said in order to strengthen security along the international borders of Punjab lying in Pathankot, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Fazilka

and Ferozepur districts, the state will demand from the Centre, deployment of more battalions of BSF.

He also said Punjab will demand sensitive status for the border of the state shared with Pakistan.

The deputy chief minister said the Punjab government was also chalking out a strategy to prepare a second-in-line defence security cover on Pakistan borders.

To a query, he said that Punjab police played "bravado" role in countering the terrorist attack on the Pathankot Air Force Base. And for strengthening its borders, the Punjab government will deputy DIG level officer.

On this occasion, Union Minister for Food Processing Industry Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had convened a high-level review meeting on the Pathankot episode and all steps were being taken to safeguard the country.

She said the Union government will step up vigil on the international borders and any terrorists will be given a befitting reply.

Sukhbir also flagged off a train from Raman Mandi to Sri Nanded Sahib and four buses to Salasar Dham in Rajasthan under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Darshan Yatra Yojana.

He said that as per the demand of pilgrims the number of trains, buses and their trips will be increased to ensure that maximum people are able to visit their respective places of worship.

He said that there was immense enthusiasm in the people of Punjab regarding Yojana and as per the need, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be consulted on increasing the number of trains, buses and their trips.

He said that trains will also be run for Ajmer Sharif and Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.