PTI
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 1
BSF personnel should check the smuggling of cattle, especially cows, from India-Bangladesh border and clamp it down at any cost, home minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday. A seasoned politician and organiser, Union home minister Rajnath Singh has one of the key responsibilities in the government - security of the country.
"You (BSF) have to work on many frontiers. You have to strive to stop illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, deal with narcotics,fake currency notes being smuggled from this border.
"I want to tell BSF jawans and officers that you should stop the smuggling of cows (at this border) at any cost and if you are doing that already I compliment you for that," the Home Minister said while delivering his speech during the 45th Raising Day celebrations of the force in New Delhi.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed was also among those attended the event. Cow is revered by the Hindus and the RSS and its affiliated associations have been vocal about the illegal transport of cows and other cattle across the border for slaughtering.
The 4,096km Indo-Bangla border is guarded by the Border Security Force, with BGB the counterpart on other side, and this frontier is notorious for smuggling of cattle, narcotics and fake Indian currency notes. The Home Minister also lauded the country's largest border guarding force, which also guards the Indo-Pak border, for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan during the recent spate of ceasefire violations. "You showed a lot of patience during these ceasefire violations despite Pakistan provoking and doing repeated violations.
It is because of your hardwork that no one can cast its evil eye on India. You have a glint of patriotism on your faces today," he said.
The home minister also sounded words of caution for neighbouring countries when reporters, on the sidelines of the event, asked him about the emergence of terror groups like ISIS and similar activities on the eastern flank related to Burdwan blasts. "A threat is threat.
I think even in our neighbouring countries anywhere when these terrorist organisations raise their heads then definitely all neighbouring countries should take precautions because no one can remain untouched (by their activities)," he said after the event at a BSF camp here. Singh added that the security mechanism of the country has devised "plans" to stop and check such terrorist activities and these measures were also discussed during the recently held conference of the top police brass of the country in Guwahati.
He said he cannot rule out further arrests in the ISIS terror case in which one Mumbai-based youth has been arrested recently by the NIA. Talking about the security of public rallies of BJP President Amit Shah in West Bengal, he said that it was the "responsibility of the state government to see that no untoward incident happens" during such events.
BSF gave befitting reply to Pakistan’s ceasefire violation: Rajnath Singh
BSF personnel should check the smuggling of cattle, especially cows, from India-Bangladesh border and clamp it down at any cost, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.
"You (BSF) have to work on many frontiers. You have to strive to stop illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, deal with narcotics,fake currency notes being smuggled from this border.
"I want to tell BSF jawans and officers that you should stop the smuggling of cows (at this border) at any cost and if you are doing that already I compliment you for that," the Home Minister said while delivering his speech during the 45th Raising Day celebrations of the force here.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed was also among those attended the event. Cow is revered by the Hindus and the RSS and its affiliated associations have been vocal about the illegal transport of cows and other cattle across the border for slaughtering.
The 4,096km Indo-Bangla border is guarded by the Border Security Force, with BGB the counterpart on other side, and this frontier is notorious for smuggling of cattle, narcotics and fake Indian currency notes.
The Home Minister also lauded the country's largest border guarding force, which also guards the Indo-Pak border, for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan during the recent spate of ceasefire violations.
"You showed a lot of patience during these ceasefire violations despite Pakistan provoking and doing repeated violations. It is because of your hardwork that no one can cast its evil eye on India. You have a glint of patriotism on your faces today," he said.
The Home Minister also sounded words of caution for neighbouring countries when reporters, on the sidelines of the event, asked him about the emergence of terror groups like ISIS and similar activities on the eastern flank related to Burdwan blasts.
"A threat is threat. I think even in our neighbouring countries anywhere when these terrorist organisations raise their heads then definitely all neighbouring countries should take precautions because no one can remain untouched (by their activities)," he said after the event at a BSF camp here.
Singh added that the security mechanism of the country has devised "plans" to stop and check such terrorist activities and these measures were also discussed during the recently held conference of the top police brass of the country in Guwahati.
He said he cannot rule out further arrests in the ISIS terror case in which one Mumbai-based youth has been arrested recently by the NIA.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Monday asked the government to present without any delay a bill to give effect to the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) noting that it was in national interest and will pave way for broader ties with the neighbouring country.
In its report presented to the Lok Sabha, the Standing Committee on External Affairs said coming into force of the pact may result in a "modest" demographic change in bordering areas and observed that security dimension due to influx of population should be considered seriously by the government.
The Constitution (119th Amendment) Bill, 2013 is aimed at ratifying the LBA under the Indira-Mujib pact of 1974 to exchange areas and people on either side of the border.
As per the provision, India will exchange 111 enclaves measuring 17,160 acres with Bangladesh and receive 51 enclaves covering 7,110 acres. Almost 51,000 people reside in these enclaves. The territories involved in the exchange are in Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Tripura. The Standing Committee headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor felt the difficulties being faced by the people living in the "enclaves" of both the countries would come to an end once the pact comes into force.
"The committee are of strong opinion that the Constitution (119th Amendment) Bill 2013 is in overall national interest as it would pave the way for broader bilateral ties with one of our closest neighbours, Bangladesh," it said, adding that delays in passage of the bill have needlessly contributed to the perpetuation of a huge humanitarian crisis. The Committee asked the government to keep ready a blueprint for development of the enclaves to be handed over to India by Bangladesh so that development work can be started immediately after the pact is ratified.
