The Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday said the security forces have achieved a big success by securing a decisive control over terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir since 2014. He said our Prime Minister has also set a target of the US $ 5 trillion economy before the nation and the same can be achieved only when the nation’s internal security is strong.
Addressing an impressive gathering on the occasion of 83 rd Raising day celebrations of CRPF, Shah said the nation is always proud of the CRPF. 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".
"Whether it be in Naxal affected areas, facing Pakistan-inspired terrorists in Kashmir or restoring peace by eliminating groups that create unrest in the Northeast, the CRPF has played a commendable role in these three areas" . He, however, added the central paramilitary force should draw a roadmap for the goals to be achieved in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, 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. Several dignitaries including the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, Union Minister Dr.Jitendra Singh and the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla,DG CRPF Kuldeep Singh were present at the function. This is the first time that the CRPF is celebrating its Raising Day outside Delhi.
In his address, the Union Home Minister said after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014 there has been a big change in the situation of Jammu and Kashmir in a short period of time and democracy has begun to function at the grass roots level.
"Today, over 30,000 people are elected members of panchayats. There is a panch and sarpanch in every village and they are guiding the developmental activities in their villages. Tehsil and district panchayats were formed and the Modi-led government has been successful in taking the Panchayati Raj system to the ground level,"he added
He said the abrogation of Article 370 also paved the way for inclusive development of all sections of society.
"Dalits, backward classes, women and pahari-speaking people were deprived of benefits of development in the past but under new laws which were implemented in J&K (after August 2019), everyone is getting benefited," Shah said. Referring to the prevailing situation, Shah also highlighted that Industrial development has also begun and the Jammu and Kashmir administration has been successful in receiving investment on the ground of more than Rs. 33,000 crore. "Work is progressing rapidly to complete all the aspects of the Prime Minister's package and to provide water and electricity to every household, to create an effective system to tackle COVID-19, to build toilets in every household, to deliver Ayushman Bharat cards to every household, J&K has achieved complete success in all these schemes".
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."I would like to 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". Earlier on Friday evening Shah also reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir and senior officers of the Government of India and the Jammu & Kashmir administration.
The Union Home Minister appreciated the improvement in the security situation, reduction in terror incidents from 417 in 2018 to 229 in 2021 and decrease in number of security forces personnel martyred from 91 in 2018 to 42 in 2021. Shah emphasized on proactive operations against terrorists and denying them safe haven or financial support. He directed the security forces and police to ensure real time coordination for effective counter-terrorism operations and monitoring activities of terrorists from jails. The Home Minister ordered further strengthening of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Jammu &Kashmir to choke narco terrorism.
Shah said the security grid should be further strengthened to ensure zero cross-border infiltration and to eliminate terrorism completely in order to achieve Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.