LONG ARM OF THE CENTRE

he Union home ministry’s unilateral decision, notified on October 11, to expand the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) in three states has raised angry protests and accusations of misuse of Central powers. While BJP-ruled Assam has kept mum about the move, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal and the Congress government in Punjab have objected, saying the notification is unconstitutional since it violates state rights in matters of law and order. Many have accused the ruling BJP of trying to use the BSF to gain police powers in states it does not govern, with both West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata