‘CISF at Bhakra for infra security; act as CM, not comedian': Bittu hits out at Mann
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Chandigarh: Accusing Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann of "unnecessarily politicising" the deployment of
Central Industrial Security Force
(CISF) at Bhakra dam, Union minister of state for railways and food processing industries Ravneet Singh Bittu, on Thursday, called "a routine measure aimed at securing critical national infrastructure".
"The CISF deployment has no connection with water-sharing decisions, which remain under the jurisdiction of irrigation and power department officials and administrative authorities. These deployments are solely for the protection of infrastructure and have no bearing on inter-state water distribution," Bittu said in a written statement, terming Mann's objections as "irresponsible" and "politically motivated".
He stated, "Mann needs to understand he is no longer a comedian but a CM of a sensitive border state. Security of vital projects like Nangal and Bhakra dams should not be turned into political theatre."
Bittu pointed out, "Central forces, including CRPF and CISF, are already deployed for Mann's own security at multiple locations, including his official residence in Chandigarh, the Kapurthala House in New Delhi, and at various state institutions like the Punjab civil secretariat and airports.
Mann has no objection to CRPF protecting him wherever he goes, or CISF securing the state's airports and secretariats.
But when the same forces are deployed to protect national assets like dams, he suddenly cries foul."
Slamming Mann for "trying to exploit the situation for political mileage," Bittu stated, "Security forces are not political tools. The CM must refrain from undermining their credibility."
Slams Ludhiana land acquisition plan
Bittu, in a separate written statement, also lashed out at the AAP govt in Punjab for "its decision to acquire 25,000 acres of agricultural land in villages surrounding Ludhiana."
He demanded an immediate rollback of the land acquisition proposal.
He stated, "The decision to acquire nearly all the agricultural land within a 10-km radius of Ludhiana, one of the most fertile and productive regions in Punjab, will devastate the farming community." He accused the state AAP leadership of functioning like "property dealers"
The minister stated, "Land in Ludhiana villages is valued between Rs 5 to 10 crore per acre.
Once acquired, farmers will have no nearby alternative for relocation or continuing their livelihood in agriculture."
Pointing to the "environmental cost of the move," he stated, "Punjab is already suffering from the effects of over-urbanisation. This massive land acquisition will only worsen the state's ecological imbalance."
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