The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today put the entire government and political machinery in an emergency mode following reports of developments on the Indo-Pak border.Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh spoke to Mr. Badal over telephone this morning to request him to immediately start the process of evacuation of the people residing in the villages falling within ten kilometres of the International border in view of the escalating situation.While monitoring the current situation during an emergency meeting convened at his official residence, Mr. Badal directed the Chief Secretary and DGP, who were present in the meeting, to ask the concerned Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to oversee the entire evacuation process in the border districts of Ferozepur, Fazilka, Amritsar, Taran Tarn, Gurdaspur and Pathankot. The Chief Minister directed the DCs to identify suitable location for setting up camps and ensure that none of any residents being evacuated was put to any sort of inconvenience or hardships.
The Chief Minister also personally spoke to the concerned Cabinet Ministers and MLAs to camp in these border districts in which their assembly constituencies fall, to keep close liaison with the district administration to ensure the safe movement of the residents of the villages within the close proximity of International border.Mr. Badal also directed the Chief Secretary to immediately release Rs. one crore each to all the Deputy Commissioners of six border districts to meet out any exigency arising out of these prevailing situation. The Chief Minister has also called an emergency meeting of state Cabinet today at 6 pm to review the entire situation in the wake of recent developments on the border and advisory issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI.Recalling the indomitable spirit of patriotism of the Punjabis to defend the national unity and integrity of the country, Mr. Badal urged them to demonstrate the same spirit in consonance with their age old ethos of valour and self-esteem.The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, DGP Mr. Suresh Arora and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar.