Treat Punjab at par with J-K on forces deployment: CM

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Centre to treat the Punjab frontier at par with Jammu-Kashmir as regards deployment of Border Security force (BSF) for checking infiltration.
Badal said he has asked Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to deploy adequate number of BSF personnel keeping in view the long border that the state shares with Pakistan.
In the wake of recent terror attacks at Dinanagar and Pathankot, he said, the need of the hour is to replicate the formula in Punjab as applicable to J-K and also to intensify vigil along the border.
"Punjab is a national frontier and concerted efforts must be made to beef its security for the sake of protecting the unity and integrity of the nation," he added.

Meanwhile, taking a jibe at Captain Amarinder Singh, Badal said that the state Congress chief was a "fair weather politician" who was available to people only during election season.
Besides that, he said, "the scion of Patiala Royal family is busy with his aristocratic lifestyle".

Asserting that he has visited every village and met people while discharging his duties as the CM of the state, Badal said Amarinder, however, had remained "inaccessible" to them during his stint as CM from 2002-2007.
He noted that "it was on record that not only common people but Amarinder Singh also remained inaccessible to the ministers of his own Cabinet".

Further speaking to the gathering here, Badal said Amarinder, the local MP, did not visit his constituency ever since his election to the Lok Sabha in 2014.
"It is strange that Captain is dreaming to become the Chief Minister of the state by remaining aloof within four walls of his palace," he added.
Lashing out at Amarinder and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sucha Singh Chottepur for "spitting venom" against Akali Dal, Badal said both the leaders were once sworn Akalis but later changed sides for the sake of power.
Asked about some SAD leaders including a few sitting
MLAs switching loyalties just before the assembly polls, Badal said it was some disgruntled and over ambitious people who failed to get ticket for the elections or the positions desired by them because of which they deserted the party.

Earlier, addressing the gatherings during 'Sangat Darshan' in villages Sudhar, Halwara, Barhundi and Raikot, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said Congress and AAP were just raising "hollow slogans and false promises" with a single aim of assuming power in the state.
He said both the parties were trying to "mislead the people by unleashing malicious propaganda."
The Punjab CM said both Congress and AAP were least bothered about the interests of the state and its people.