BSF Embodies India’s Strength and Resolve: Amit Shah at Investiture Ceremony

New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, on Tuesday hailed the Border Security Force (BSF) as the world’s largest and most formidable border guarding force. Addressing the BSF Investiture Ceremony and Rustamji Memorial Lecture in New Delhi, Shah celebrated the journey of the force from its humble inception in 1965 to becoming a symbol of India’s resilience and commitment to national security.

The event was attended by senior dignitaries including the Union Home Secretary, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, and the Director General of the BSF. Shah paid tribute to the founding father of the BSF, K.F. Rustamji, who laid the foundation of a force that would stand as India’s first line of defence. He recalled how the idea of raising such a force emerged after the 1965 war to secure India’s borders during peacetime, and praised Rustamji’s role as the first Director General in shaping the BSF’s early mission and identity.

In his speech, the Home Minister highlighted the BSF’s unwavering commitment to duty in extreme conditions—from the sweltering deserts to freezing mountain terrains, dense forests, and remote coastal belts. He said that the force’s exceptional service across such diverse terrains has earned it the trust of the nation and the responsibility to guard two of India’s most challenging borders—those with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Shah lauded the BSF’s role not only in border security but also in internal security operations, disaster response, and counterterrorism. He said that the BSF has always stepped up whenever the nation called—whether during national elections, the COVID-19 pandemic, major sports events, or anti-Naxal operations.

Turning to current affairs, Shri Shah called Operation Sindoor a historic demonstration of India’s new security doctrine under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He recalled that for decades, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism had tested India’s patience, but under the Modi government, the nation adopted a new approach. Referring to the surgical strikes after the Uri attack and the airstrike following Pulwama, he emphasized that India has responded firmly whenever terrorists targeted its soldiers and civilians.

He recounted the recent brutal terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam and said that Operation Sindoor was India’s fitting reply. Nine terrorist hideouts, including two major headquarters, were destroyed within minutes. He emphasized that India’s initial strikes were carefully directed only at terrorist infrastructure and did not target Pakistani military or civilian assets. However, Pakistan’s retaliation proved beyond doubt that it continues to sponsor terrorism, as it treated the strike on terrorists as an attack on itself.

Shah said the world has now seen Pakistan’s true colors, with senior Pakistani army officers even attending the funerals of slain terrorists. Operation Sindoor, he said, exposed the deep bond between Pakistan and terrorism, and marked one of the most successful and precise anti-terror responses in India’s history. He added that global security experts are today acknowledging India’s military precision, restraint, and lethal capabilities.

Paying homage to BSF personnel Mohammad Imtiyaz Ahmad and Deepak Chingakham, who laid down their lives during Operation Sindoor, the Home Minister said their sacrifice will forever be remembered in the annals of India’s defence history.

He noted that the BSF today secures over 15,000 kilometres of India’s most challenging borders and continues to evolve by adopting innovative technologies. In regions where traditional fencing is not possible, the BSF has implemented advanced global and in-house technological solutions to strengthen border security. He said that the force’s continuous adaptation will ensure India’s borders remain safe in the years to come.

Reflecting on the BSF’s stellar legacy, Shah said the force has not only earned the respect of the nation but also numerous accolades, including Padma awards, gallantry medals, and military honors. He remarked that this unmatched recognition is a tribute to the BSF’s bravery, discipline, and commitment.

He also highlighted the BSF’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking, with over 1.1 lakh kilograms of narcotics seized in the last five years, and its vital contributions to anti-Naxal operations by eliminating 78 Naxalites during the same period.

Shah said that Operation Sindoor also underscored the success of India’s self-reliance mission in the defence sector. The modern equipment and capabilities deployed during the operation demonstrated the growing strength of indigenous defence production under the Modi government. He expressed confidence that this momentum toward Atmanirbharta, or self-reliance, would continue to grow in the years ahead.

Concluding his address, Amit Shah said that the entire country stands united behind the BSF and all armed forces. He affirmed that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Narendra Modi government fully support and honor the bravery of every BSF jawan. “India is proud of you,” he declared, “and as long as the BSF stands guard, not an inch of Indian soil can be challenged.”