Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has lauded the Border Security Force (BSF) for effectively checking cattle smuggling across the Bangladesh border. Addressing the Golden Jubilee Parade here today, Shri Rajnath Singh said there has been a sharp 70% decline in such incidents. He added that this step has been widely hailed from all quarters, – North and South India – wherever he visited on tour.
Noting with appreciation the effective retaliation by the BSF to ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Shri Rajnath Singh said this has reimposed the faith of the nation upon the BSF to guard the borders with vigilance. Observing that during his recent visit to China, he was apprised that the Great Wall of China used to be their first line of defence, Shri Rajnath Singh said one might well say that here in India the BSF is the nation’s first “wall” of defence.
The Union Home Minister also recalled the contribution of the BSF to Internal Security including anti-terrorism and LWE operations, and humanitarian efforts such as Disaster Rescue and Relief during Gujarat earthquake earlier and the J&K floods last year. Shri Rajnath Singh also praised the BSF for undertaking the Swachh Bharat campaign and a massive plantation drive that earned the force a place in the record books.
Addressing the gathering, Director General, BSF Shri DK Pathak said the force remained committed to safeguarding the country’s borders and in the line of duty 14 personnel made the supreme sacrifice while 21 were injured in the last year.
On the occasion, the Union Home Minister gave away various Awards and Trophies. Janbaaz team of the BSF presented a daredevil display on motorcycles while the BSF Camel Contingent displayed acrobatics, including various Yoga postures while riding camels.