By Our Correspondent
JAMMU/NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah attended the 83rd Raising Day celebrations of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jammu today as Chief Guest.
On this occasion, the Union Home Minister also inspected the parade. Several dignitaries including the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and the Union Home Secretary were present at the function. This is for the first time that CRPF is celebrating its Raising Day outside Delhi.
In his address, the Union Home Minister said the Government of India has decided that annual parades of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will be held in different parts of the country so that the CAPF organizations engaged in the country’s borders and internal security, go to different parts of the country and build good relations with the people and mix with the culture of various regions of the country. As part of this decision, the annual parade of the CRPF was organized in the historic city of Jammu today.
Terming J&K as the integral part of India, it was from here that PanditPremnathDogra and Shyama Prasad Mukherji started the movement against Do Nishan, Do Vidhan, Do Pradhan historic contributions to make Kashmir an integral part of India.
Under Prime Minister Shri NarendraModi’s leadership, Dr. Mukherjee and PanditPremnathDogra’s dream of EkNishan, EkVidhan, Ek Pradhan has been fully realized, said the Union Home Minister.
The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that since the raising of the CRPF, till date 2,340 of its personnel have made the supreme sacrifice which will be written in golden words in the annals of history. I pay humble tributes on behalf of the entire nation to the CRPF jawans who have made sacrifices, first while protecting the country’s borders and later the country’s internal security, fighting naxalism and terrorism and dealing with riots. I want to assure to the families of those having received posthumous honours that the martyrdom of your son, husband or brother will never go in vain, and the nation will remember their martyrdom for ages to come.
The Union Home Minister said that CRPF has kept the security of the country and countrymen above itself.“I am sure the jawans of the force will carry forward this tradition with the same dedication”, he added.
The CRPF has played a commendable role, be it in Naxal affected areas, fighting Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in Kashmir or restoring peace in the Northeast. The country’s first Home Minister and Iron Man, Sardar Patel visualized a multi-dimensional role for the force it in tune with the changing needs of a newly independent nation.
Today, the CRPF is the country’s largest armed force with 246 battalions and 3.25 lakh soldiers, whose credibility is recognized not only in the country, but by all Armed Forces in the world.
While celebrating October 21as Police Day, all police forces in the country re-dedicate themselves to the internal security of our nation, by taking inspiration from the valour and sacrifice shown by CRPF personnel at Hot Springs in 1959 during Chinese aggression.
On April 9, 1965, when the Sardar Post in Kutch was attacked by a Pakistani Infantry Brigade, CRPF personnel were also there and they fought till the last drop of their blood and made the supreme sacrifice in trying to save our territory. Both these incidents are written in golden letters in India’s history and the CRPF and the nation shall always be proud of both these incidents that is why we celebrate 9th April as ShauryaDiwas.
Since Shri NarendraModi has become the Prime Minister of the nation, the security forces got the upper hand on Naxalism andPakistan Sponsored Terrorism.During 1990’s, violence was on extreme in Kashmir, Naxal areas and North East region, but CRPF has displayed great courage and bravery to maintain the peace, said the Union Minister.He also commended the CRPF for their exemplary role in the biggest electoral festival.
Shri Amit Shah said there was a time when fierce riots used to take place across the country, but after the establishment of Rapid Action Force (RAF) new methods of controlling riots with minimum use of force have been developed. The RAF’s tenacity is as it should be, but the RAF has succeeded with confidence through the new art of pacifying rioters with the least use of force. If we look at the history of riots in the country, it will be seen in two parts, riots before and after the creation of the RAF. I can definitely say that after the creation of the RAF, it has been successful in reducing riots in the country to a great extent. The RAF also launched a campaign to train the State Reserve Police force, due to which both the RAF and State Reserve Police forces work together in harmony, which has yielded very good results.
The Home Minister said that this is the year of the AzadiKaAmritMahotsav and the Prime Minister has set a goal before 130 crore people of the nation that when we celebrate the Centenary of independence India should be at a prominent place in the world. Our Prime Minister has set a target of the USD 5 trillion economy before the nation. I believe that the goal of the USD 5 trillion economy can be achieved only when the nation’s internal security is strong and CRPF has a big role. CRPF should draw a roadmap for the goals to be achieved in the AzadiKaAmritMahotsav, by looking at challenges ahead and a strategy to assimilate developing and available technologies so that it can make its force the most modern, capable and effective armed force.
Speaking on the present situation of Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Home Minister said that after Shri NarendraModi became the PrimeMinister of the country in 2014, Jammu and Kashmir has gone through rapid growth and transformation. Grassroot Democratic setup was established in J&K for the first time in decades.
More than 30,000 public representatives have become part of the democratic system, which is a matter of great pride for J&K and the entire nation. Now, Panches and Sarpanches, Blockpanchayats, Zilapanchayats in every village of J&K are taking the villages on the path of development, observed the Union Home Minister.
Removal of Article 370 and introduction of new progressive laws has begun the era of all- inclusive development in J&K, connecting the women, pahari and downtrodden sections of society to the mainstream of development, he added.
The Union Home Minister said Security forces have achieved a big success by securing a decisive control over terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Home Minister congratulated the Lt Governor of J&K and the UT Government for attracting massive investments in the UT, taking the Industrial sector to new heights of growth and progress.
J&K Government deserves all praises for bringing investment worth more than Rs 33,000 cr on the ground; giving dedicated push to all aspects of PM Package; HarGharJal, HarGharBijli, HarGharSochalay; distributing of Ayushman Bharat cards to every beneficiary; creating infrastructure and facilities to tackle Corona , and ensuring 100% saturation all such schemes for the welfare of the people, said the Union Home Minister.
After Independence, for the first time, a mass movement has been initiated to curb corruption and bring transparency in every sector.
Road construction in J&K has broken all records since Independence. 07 new medical colleges, 2 AIIMS, initiation of 21 hydroelectric projects and many more such projects are aimed at the betterment of the people of J&K, he further added.
Shri Amit Shah said the nation is always proud of the CRPF. Today is the Raising Day of CRPF and this force of 3.25 lakh jawans should rededicate itself to internal security and the security of the nation and resolve to carry forward the great history of the CRPF.
