P.V.Anandpadmanabhan

While addressing the 53rd Raising Day Parade of Indo Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBPF) held at Greater Noida, on Saturday, the union home minister Rajnath Singh said ‘Vasudhaiv Katumbakam’ is the country’s policy for its neighbors and that India wants peaceful relations with them. 

Singh stated that India wants peace with China, but it cannot be at the cost of National honour and any compromise on the territorial integrity of the country. The infrastructural development on the Indian side of the border with China is necessary for facilitating our forces. There should be no concern for any infrastructural development on our side of the border from our neighbours, he added. The Home Minister said that any issue along the border can be resolved through negotiations in a peaceful and cordial manner. He also announced to provide Rs. 175 crore for development of infrastructure on the Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. 

He also objected to the unprovoked firing along the Pakistan border. Singh said that our neighbor should restrain from such activities as even on the day of Diwali, firing took place at the border. He mentioned that such cease-fire violations are unacceptable to the country and our forces are compelled to take appropriate retaliatory measures. While our eastern border is managed in a peaceful manner, our western neighbor should also maintain calm and peace at the border. 

The Home Minister also announced that 54 new Border Out Posts (BOPs) have been sanctioned by the Ministry to fill the gaps on the border of Arunachal Pradesh. He further said that the Home Ministry is keen to modernize the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). He said that the Ministry is considering deploying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for keeping more effective surveillance of the borders. 

Rajnath Singh mentioned that the Ministry of Home Affairs is committed to the empowerment of CAPFs and in this regard, the delegation of financial powers to the Directors General of CAPFs for procurement of machinery and equipment has been increased from Rs. 8 crore to Rs. 20 crore. The power for procurement of arms and ammunition has also been enhanced from Rs. 5 crore to Rs. 20 crore. The delegated power for clothing and tentage has been raised from Rs. 6 crore to Rs. 15 crore.