New Delhi: Sending a clear signal to the hostile nations, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday warned that those challenging India's sovereignty will be responded in the same language. Delivering the Rustamji Memorial Lecture on 18th Investiture Ceremony of the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital, Shah said, "Border security is national security. We have many challenges. I have complete faith in our paramilitary forces. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have an independent defence policy in which those challenging our sovereignty will get the response in the same language."
Paying tributes to those who have made supreme sacrifice for the nation, the Home Minister said, "India is strengthening its position on world map. These bravehearts and warriors cannot be forgotten. India has a place of pride on the world map due to BSF and our paramilitary forces who are protecting borders. We had to proceed with 7,516 km of coastal border and over 15,000 km of ground border. For a long time, there were no discussions on border safety due to some priorities. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government was formed, the issue was pushed forward."
Recalling the contributions made by Rustamji and that of BSF, Shah said, "In erstwhile east Pakistan, human rights were being abused. Women were being tortured. BSF troops played a crucial role and now Bangladesh is an independent nation. Rustamji (BSF founder Khusro Faramurz Rustamji) oversaw operation."
Over 27 BSF personnel were awarded including 14 Police Medals for Gallantry and 13 Police Medals for Meritorious Services. The Investiture ceremony of BSF is being celebrated since 2003 in the memory of the first Director-General, Padma Vibhushan KF Rustamji, the legendary and one of modern India's most celebrated Police Officer popularly known as the Founding Father of the BSF.
Read: India probes 'drone strike' on Jammu airport
Shah also went on to add that under PM Modi's leadership none can challenge India's border and sovereignty. He stressed the need to give special importance to the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, given the recent drone attack on the Jammu airport in which two personnel suffered minor injuries. "Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) that entails deployment of smart fences, advanced surveillance gadgets and anti-infiltration alarms has been sped up by the border management division under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Border Security Force along the borders with the two nations. There is no benefit of fencing the border if gaps are not completely filled. I want to ensure that there will be no gap in fencing on border by 2022," Shah said, adding that fencing of borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh is significant, and that all issues related to the fencing project have been resolved.
