Home Minister Rajnath Singh Attends 56th Raising Day Parade of ITBP
Union home minister Rajnath Singh attended the 56th Raising Day Parade of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at 39th Bn, ITBP, Lakhnawali Camp, Surajpur, Greater Noida on October 24. The MoS for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Mahesh Sharma, DG, ITBP R K Pachnanda and senior officers were also present on the occasion. Rajnath Singh took the salute and inspected the Raising Day Parade. Led by Mahila contingent, Commando, Skiing, Mountaineering, Anti-Naxal Operation, paratroopers, mounted column, and different frontier contingents, the parade showcased all aspects of the Force. Recently inducted Snow Scooters, different types of All Terrain Vehicles and high end SUVs, Pol Net etc were included in the march past for the first time.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that the ITBP jawans have made supreme sacrifices while protecting the border in difficult circumstances at altitudes ranging from 9,000 feet to 18,000 feet. He said that ITBP not only protects Indo-China Border, but also plays responsible role in country’s internal security. The ITBP jawans are deployed in Northeast and Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas also, he added.
Singh said that he has himself visited the BoPs at Indo-China Border and seen how the ITBP jawans perform their duties under tough conditions. He said that he has recently visited the BoPs of Rimkhim, Mana and Lapthal in Uttarakhand and experienced the lives of ITBP jawans deployed there. He further said that the ministry for home affairs has received a proposal for 50 new BoPs and it will be considered.
On this occasion, six personnel were conferred with President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service while 26 personnel were conferred with Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
SIR,
Has not the time come to ask a simple question about the division of powers between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior? Should not the body of the ITBP be attached to the Ministry of Defense? This would rationalize the purchase of equipment, it would strengthen the strength of the Indian armed forces, and it would result in a better use of resources. This is a reform that has become urgent, and is needed to clarify the competences between means devoted to internal security and those devoted to external security. But it takes the will to do that, to go beyond the issues of self-esteem. Because what is at stake is the security of the country.