Centre waives off Punjab’s Pathankot Bill

NEW DELHI: The Centre has agreed to waive off Punjab government’s bill for deployment of paramilitary forces during the Pathankot terror operations in January this year, a move that can set a bad precedent by encouraging states not to pay their dues.

The Union home ministry had asked the Badal government to pay Rs 6.35 crore for expenses incurred due to the deployment of central forces in Pathankot and nearby areas between January 2 and 27 earlier this year, during and after the attacks at the Air Force base in the region.

The state government, however, refused to pay on the grounds that terrorism is a central subject and these units were deployed in national interest. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are in power in Punjab, and the state goes to polls early next year.

Deputy chief minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal, too had flagged off the dues issue during his meeting with home minister Rajnath Singh. A senior home ministry official explained whenever central paramilitary forces are provided to any state, the tabs are picked up by the central government, and it is later adjusted against the state’s budget.

According to the home ministry, Punjab has an outstanding debt of Rs 1.20 lakh crore as of October 2015.

Officials’ privy to the development also told ET that the decision may lead to an additional burden on the central exchequer and may also lead to similar demands by other states. During the Pathankot attacks, seven security personnel died and four militants were killed during the 80-hour operation. The four suspected to be Jaish-e-Mohammad militants had sneaked into Punjab from Pakistan and attacked the air base on January 2.

Following the attacks, nearly 20 companies of paramilitary forces, including men from CRPF and BSF, were deployed for a period of 25 days. According to state government, deployment of each company was charged at Rs 1,77,143 per day.

In its letter to the Punjab government, MHA had then instructed it to bear the transportation cost. The state government in its response has also pointed out that six of the 20 companies were used only to monitor escape points for terrorists and not for law and order management. Punjab is among the states that has the highest number of deployment of central forces including CRPF, CISF and BSF.