New Delhi, May 22: As Pakistani Rangers continued shelling on the international border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the security forces have a free hand to respond as they deem fit if the neighbouring country continued the offensive.
Speaking at the Border Security Force’s (BSF) 16th investiture ceremony function here, Singh said “We have a neighbour that does not want to correct itself. “Yet, we must not fire the first bullet at our neighbour. But if it opens fire, you (security forces) have to decide what action to take. Then no one will ask why you did so.”
New Delhi had May 16, announced a ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, asking security forces to halt their operations during Ramadan to help “peace loving Muslims” observe the holy month in a peaceful environment.
The Minister also said that perhaps the neighbouring nation “did not want peace for some unknown reasons”. According to the police, the Pakistani Rangers have been carrying out indiscriminate shelling and firing in Arnia, RS Pura and Ramgarh sectors in the Jammu and Samba districts since Monday. At least 30 BSF outposts and some two dozen border villages have been targeted. The home minister said the Modi government’s ambitious plan to completely seal its borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh using technology gadgets and ‘smart fences’ is a “work in progress.” “In few months, the work should get completed,” he said. We are a peace loving country and want cordial relations with all the countries including our neighbours, he said addding India gave to the world the concept of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’ or ‘the world is one family’. The minister called the BSF as the ‘first wall of defence’ on the borders and said the troops of the force, owing to their valour and courage, have ensured that the Indian frontiers are safe under them. Singh added that nothing can be “supreme” than the fact that a soldier lays down his life for the nation and everyone should ensure that the troops have high morale all the times.
