Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 21: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today that India wants friendly relations with its neighbours including China and Pakistan through dialogue but made it loud and clear that there will be no compromise on “safety, security, honour and integrity” of the country. He said while India has no “expansionist plans” but, at the same time, it will not tolerate terrorism and infiltration by the militants.
Addressing Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) jawans after inaugurating their newly constructed camp at Ghagwal in border district of Samba and brief inter-action with media, Rajnath said: “India never had any expansionist ideas. It wants peace and friendly relations with all its neighbours but there can be no compromise on terrorism and infiltration, which have to be checked at all costs. We stand for better ties with our neighbours and the issues with them including border disputes and terrorism can be resolved through talks”.
Starting his three days visit to Jammu and Leh this morning with inauguration of the newly constructed ITBP camp at Ghagwal in Samba, the Union Home Minister later left for Leh, where he reviewed situation along China frontiers with ITBP top brass at a high level meeting. The ITBP has been manning the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Ladakh.
At Leh, Rajnath Singh was received by BJP MP from Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang, Rajya Sabha member Shamsher Singh, LAHDC Leh Chief Executive Councilor Rigzin Spalbar, BJP leaders including MLAs Sat Sharma, Dr DK Manyal and Ravinder Raina, Deputy Commissioner, Prasanna Ramaswamy and SSP Sunil Gupta among others.
While DG BSF DK Pathak returned to New Delhi after Samba visit, DG ITBP Krishan Choudhary was accompanying the Union Home Minister to Ladakh.
He will visit several forward posts manned by the ITBP along the LAC with China and fly over other posts tomorrow for high level review of security situation on China frontiers. Today also, he met top ITBP Commanders and officials at Sindhu Bhawan in China for over two hours and had detailed briefing from them on the situation prevailing on the LAC including latest incident at Burtse in Leh sector that sparked off fresh tensions between India and Pakistan but the standoff was defused after a week following two simultaneous flag meetings between Sino-Indian Army officials.
The Union Home Minister visited a cultural programme, organised by Shenam Hall this evening.
Sources said several issues pertaining to the ITBP requirements along LAC with China and boosting infrastructure on the Indian side apart from the Chinese activities on the LAC came up for discussions during the Home Minister’s meeting with the ITBP officials.
“India only wants to defend its borders and infiltration and transgressions from across the frontiers should stop. We are ready to take lead to improve ties with neighbours but would not compromise on our honour and dignity. We want better relationships with China and Pakistan. Peace cannot prevail in Asia and the continent cannot prosper on the path of development till India’s relations with them improve,” Singh said in a clear message to its neighbours especially Pakistan and China that while India completely stands for peace, it wouldn’t allow terrorism and transgressions on its borders.
“Whether it is a question of border disputes or issues of terrorism, I feel all the issues can be resolved through talks,” he said, adding, “India is a peace loving country. We only want to defend our borders. India has never been an expansionist country. Neither we have been expansionist nor will we be in future. We want to live in peace and let our neighbours live in peace. At the same time, we can’t tolerate terrorism or aggressions on our borders”.
Sources said the Union Home Minister through his brief but calculated use of words has given strong message to both of its hostile neighbours-Pakistan and China that India didn’t have eye on their territory but only wants them to not to indulge in cross-border terrorism and infiltration of militants (Pakistan) and transgressions into the Indian territory (China).
“Why I am saying this with full determination because India is the only country in the world where saints and sages have not only considered people living within the borders as its citizens, but also the other people living in the world,” he said.
“We have given the message to the world about the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ — the whole world is a family… Due to this we want good relations with all,”
Not only with China, but Indian wants “heart-to-heart” relationship with all neighbouring countries, he said.
The Union Home Minister said India always wished for better relationship with our neighbours. “It is always an endeavour from our side. We have extended our hand (of friendship to Pakistan and China).”
On the issue of dialogue with Pakistan in the backdrop of heavy shelling and firing on Indian civilian population, he said, “I have said that India wants better relations with the neighbours. Better relations can be built. Pakistan should come forward, both the sides should come forward. India is ready to take lead.”
Replying to a question about increase in border skirmishes and plight of people living along border, Singh said: “I want to reassure the people of the country that there will be no compromise with the security, honour and dignity of the country by our Government.”
“I want that Pakistan should come forward so that relations between India and Pakistan are better as both are neighbours. But at the same time, we won’t compromise on safety, security, honour and dignity of the country,” Singh said.
Asked whether India was hopeful of a positive outcome from Indo-Pak flag meeting on LoC today, he parried a direct reply saying that Pakistan Rangers DG had met him and gave an assurance of maintaining peace on the borders.
On the issue of compensation to border firing victims, Singh said that his Government has enhanced the ex-gratia relief from Rs one lakh to Rs five lakh.
The Home Minister said that a decision would soon be taken on proposal for construction of bunkers. “The proposal is under active consideration. It will be implemented for better life of the border dwellers and protect them during sudden shelling and firing”.
Union Minister of State in the PMO Dr Jitendra Singh was scheduled to accompany Rajnath Singh during inauguration of the ITBP camp but couldn’t make it due to a call by the Prime Minister. The DG ITBP briefed the jawans that Dr Jitendra Singh, whose name had been printed on the plate for inauguration of the camp, was preoccupied with the meeting.
However, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, Industries and Commerce Minister Chander Prakash Ganga and other prominent BJP leaders were present at the function.
Replying to another question about Pakistan targeting Indian fishermen last week, Rajnath said that talks are going on and officials are deliberating on it.
Asked about the working of the PDP and BJP Government in the State, he said that “it is running fine”.
Addressing the ITBP troops, Singh recalled the words of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that you can change a friend but not a neighbour.
“India has always tried to ensure better relations with the neighbours,” he said, adding Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has been working in this direction.
“During our swearing in ceremony, he had invited all the heads of neighbouring countries and it was probably first such step. We had not only invited them to shake hands but to have heart-to-heart relations”, Rajnath said.
“Our Prime Minister also took a lead to have better relationship with the China but at the same time he strongly raised that pending issues between China and India should be resolved. He also batted strongly for stopping transgressions.
Asked by reporters on dialogue with Pakistan in the backdrop of heavy shelling and firing on Indian civilian population from across the border, Singh said, “I have not spoken about any specific country. I talked about a principle. India wants good relations with all its neighbours. Good relations can be built. But it has to be from both sides. India has always taken the lead in this regard.
“I want that Pakistan should make efforts and take the initiative so that Indo-Pak relations improve,” he said.
Singh commended the role played by the ITBP saying it is not only guarding the borders but also protecting India’s assets in countries like Afghanistan.
He lauded the role played by ITBP in defending the Indian consulate at Herat from a terrorist attack last year.
Work is being expedited on improving surface connectivity and communication along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, with 1425 kms of road length being taken up, Rajnath said while acknowledging problems on these aspects.
He also said that ITBP, which guards 3488 kms of the border with China with “determination and dedication”, should get better equipment and a large number of facilities which are scarce for them.
The Minister, while interacting with ITBP officers and jawans here, also said that he will try to clear “within days” the proposal of setting up of 8 battalions of ITBP, 40 border posts, 12 subsidiary posts and 12 staging camps.
On communication front, he said the Government has given approval for mobile towers to 34 BOPs and that work has started on setting up of mobile towers.
“I was telling your DG that I do not want to make only promises to you,” Singh said as he, accompanied by ITBP chief Krishen Choudhary, began a three-day visit to Jammu and Ladakh to take stock of the situation on the International Border in the Jammu region and the LAC between India and China in the Ladakh region of the State.
“There is a problem of road connectivity in these areas. I have knowledge of this. There is also problem of communication along the borderline,” the Home Minister said.
“In 2008, construction of 804 kms of road length along India-China border was approved but due to some reasons, 804 kms road length could not be constructed but 191 km road length has been set up and work is on for the rest (613 kms) of the project,” he said.
“In second phase, we have decided to construct 812 km of road length,” he said.
He said he also feels that jawans of ITBP should get better equipment and there is scarcity of large number of facilities which should also made available to them.
“The biggest problem on Sino-India border is road connectivity…. “I want to assure you… I am always committed to removing your difficulties because you are guarding the Indo-China border”, the Home Minister said.
Singh, before flying to Leh, said “I am happy to meet the officers and jawans who are serving in most difficult and remote areas while guarding the borders.”
He said the government wants to strengthen and equip the guarding border forces and “we are working on it”.
He said he got to know about difficulties and problems faced by para military forces when he took the responsibility of Ministry of Home Affairs.
“One of the DGs of the para military forces told me that the biggest problem with our jawans is that if a jawan gets injured in an operation or is hospitalized, they are considered as ‘off duty’. I was pained after hearing this and September last year, I issued an order that they should be treated on duty during the period,” the Minister said.
On LTC, he said that he will take up the matter with Department of Personnel after returning to Delhi.
Medals for jawans posted in high altitude areas above 9000 feet will also be approved, he said.
Singh said there is a proposal for setting up a transit camp for 240 persons in Leh to ensure better acclimatization and this proposal is going to be approved soon.
“There are 7 battalions of ITBP in Ladakh. They are posted in high altitude areas,” he noted.
The Home Minister, who was to inaugurate an ITBP camp in Samba which is close to Pakistan and far away from China border, made it clear that ITBP is not being posted to guard the International Border with Pakistan in Jammu region where BSF is deployed.
“The campus of ITBP which has been set up here is carved out under special experiment. I can say that Samba is the first step on road to Ladakh. It is a place where ‘Him Vir’(snow warriors) are being trained and prepared for their onward journey to Ladakh. It is because of this reason that I have started three days visit to Ladakh from this place,” he said.
“I consider the ITBP jawans not only ‘Him Vir’ but also the sons of Himalaya. On one side, the natural ranges of Himalaya are standing tall like the guardians of our borders and in their lap, our jawans guard the borderlines with China with vigilance and alertness,” the Home Minister said.
He said earlier the DG of para military forces could spend up to Rs five crore without MHA approval and the cap has now been raised to Rs 20 crore by him.
“You are not only guarding the border along India-China but also actively taking role in rescue and relief operation during national calamity, earthquake and floods. You are the first respondents to such calamities,” Singh said.
“You have saved the lives of many people by undertaking rescue and relief operation. People of the country have full faith on you,” he said.
Apart from border guarding, Singh said ITBP had done superb work when there was an attack on Indian Consulate in Afghanistan and the personnel of the force played a miraculous role by saving the lives of people.
“When the people got reports about your role played during the attack through news channels and print media, people felt proud about your act. It is because of that ITBP got Shourya Chakra,” he said.
The Home Minister said initially he was not aware that ITBP is also used in fight against naxalism and believed that only CRPF is engaged in it. “Now I am happy. I feel proud of you that people have faith in you,” he said.
He said the Governments of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra have asked for ITBP for their security duty in naxal areas as they have power to give them befitting reply.
He said for Jammu and Kashmir, there is a relaxation in the height for those being recruited in the forces. For the boys category, it is 165 centimeter and for girls category it is 155 centimeters as compared to 170 centimeters for boys and 157 centimeters for girls elsewhere in the country.
Follow our WhatsApp channel