Amarinder expresses solidarity with BSF; condemns SAD

Condemning the ruling SAD for its alleged attempts to malign the image of the Border Security Force, Congress senior leader and local MP Amarinder Singh today expressed his solidarity with the BSF personnel.
Commenting on the SAD holding dharnas at three different places near the international border yesterday on the drug issue, Singh said, "On the one hand the BSF is involved in a bloody battle with Pakistan paying with the life of its men, on the other hand the Akalis were staging protests against them."
In a statement here, Amarinder announced that he will be holding a "solidarity programme" in support of the BSF soon.

He said, to boost the morale of the forces, who are braving all odds, he will be organising the public programme to express solidarity with the BSF and tell them that the country actually cares about them.
Lashing out at the Akalis for allegedly trying to malign and demoralise the BSF, the former chief minister remarked, "nothing can be more outrageous and shameful than to defame and demoralise our brave men that too at a time when they are giving their lives to defend our borders".
"The Akalis should feel ashamed for such treacherous act that amounts to betrayal of the forces and so should the BJP for maintaining a silence," he further said.

The SAD yesterday held the dharnas on the drug issue, including near the Attari international border here, for "greater awareness" and "vigilance along the border with Pakistan".

Earlier, the sit-in by the SAD was announced to "pressurise the BSF to stop entry of drugs into the state from Pakistan side".
However, in a climbdown from its earlier stance, SAD later said the dharnas were "to create awareness about drugs rather than to pressurise the BSF to stop entry of drugs from Pakistan side".
Opposition Congress too had yesterday staged a separate sit-in at the district headquarters, demanding dismissal of the Punjab government for allegedly "inciting people against the security forces".