CHANDIGARH: Should a state government be paying the cost of deploying central forces within its territory even if they have been called in to fight Pakistani terrorists? At least the Punjab government doesn't think so and has refused to pay a bill of Rs 6.35 crore that the Centre sent as payment for the paramilitary forces deployed during the Pathankot terror attack in January.According to the letter dated January 20, the ministry of home affairs has asked Punjab to pay for deployment of 20 companies of paramilitary forces between January 2 and January 27 in Pathankot and nearby areas.The letter, a copy of which is with TOI, states that the expenditure for each company is Rs 1,77,143 per day. Apart from this, it has also directed the Punjab government to bear transportation charges. Eleven companies of Central Reserve Police Force ( CRPF ) and nine companies of Border Security Force ( BSF ) were deployed to fortify the airbase during the terror attack.The riled Akali Dal state government which is part of the NDA at the Centre has replied to the bill with a letter saying that the deployment of "these units was in national interest and expenditure thereon should not be billed to the state government"."These paramilitary forces, along with Punjab Police, were used to carry out sustained search and combing operations in the area up to 10-12km around the periphery of Tibri Army cantonment, laying of night ambushes and nakas in the vicinity. Because both Pathankot Air Force base and Tibri Cantonment area are vital defence establishments and CAPF (Central Armed Police Force) was deployed for protecting these two vital installations in the national interest, it is requested that expenditure amounting to Rs 6,35,94,337 may please be waived off," a reply by Punjab's home department, headed by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal, said.The reply, dated February 18, further says that at least six companies provided to Punjab were not even involved in any law and order management in the state and were only used to plug those points from where infiltrators could escape."The deployment of these six companies of CAPF continued till mopping up operations at Pathankot Air Base was concluded by the National Security Guards ( NSG )," it added.Reacting to the Centre's demand, Sukhbir said, "For 15 years of militancy in Punjab Army was here. The state government was billed for it and they even charged interest on it. If you call in the Army to handle a local issue (like the Jat reservation in Haryana) it is one thing. But if Pakistan attacks here and you ask us to pay for it, my entire budget goes awry".The Punjab government has a debt of Rs 1.25 lakh crore at present.