Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh called Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's proposal to "seal" the India-Pakistan border by December 2018 "sheer rhetoric". Further, he claimed that Rajnath's statement was a reflection of his ignorance regarding national security.
He also said that the International Border in Punjab was already well protected. "Rajnath's statement is nothing more than sheer rhetoric since the Indo-Pak border here is already adequately sealed, with two-tier fencing and a flood-lit concrete area between the two fences," Amarinder said in a statement here.
The sweeping statement made by him, without taking into account the unique topographical and geographical realities of the border in different regions of the country, reflects his ignorance about matters of national security, he added.
The Congress leader said with the Punjab border being well insulated from incursions and intrusions, it was difficult to understand what the Home Minister means when he talks about "sealing" the Indo-Pak border.
"Does he want to build concrete walls at the Punjab border?" he asked and added that the need of the hour was not to build walls but to create bridges. "Even the Berlin Wall had to be demolished in the interest of peace." The PPCC chief alleged that the regressive policies of the Narendra Modi government are designed to take India back from its progressive path.