Union Home Minister Amit Shah skipped the 55th BSF (Border Security Force) Raising Day parade, where was called to preside as the ‘chief guest’ on Sunday morning. He backed out from attending the event at the last minute, over what sources call ‘unknown reasons’.
He instead wished them on Twitter.
On BSF Raising Day, my greetings to the guardians of India’s frontiers and country’s first line of defence.
From sand to snow, their dedication to serve the motherland in extreme weather conditions is truly inspirational.
I salute the courage & sacrifice of our BSF personnel.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 1, 2019
The event was then presided over by Union Minister NityanandRai who called the BSF an ‘impregnable wall’ against infiltration attempts in border areas. He also handed over gallantry awards and meritorious-service medals.
The BSF that was raised on December 1, 1965 currently employs 2.5 lakh personnel. The BSF jawans guard the 700 km Line of Control under the operational command of the Army, as well as the 2,289 km international border with Pakistan and the Bangladesh border.
Some BSF officials were left disappointed after Shah decided not to show up in support of the forces.
Just wanted to know. What comes first for you @AmitShah Ji? Your job as @HMOIndia or @BJP4India Party president job. @crpfindia @BSF_India @ITBP_official https://t.co/3BD31HgTri
— saurabh (@saurabh39) December 2, 2019
.@narendramodi Sir, U have always been with soldiers. @BSF_India is our elite force under Shri @AmitShah Ji & its raising day is FIXED on Dec 1
I am very disappointed that HMO could not find 2 hrs to boot morale of our brave men & woman after commitment
Jai Hind#BSFDay2019 pic.twitter.com/VOgdAGZg9D
— #GauravPradhan ?? (@DrGPradhan) December 1, 2019
On BSF Raising Day, my greetings to the guardians of India’s frontiers and country’s first line of defence.
From sand to snow, their dedication to serve the motherland in extreme weather conditions is truly inspirational.
I salute the courage & sacrifice of our BSF personnel.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 1, 2019
On October 24, Shah had missed the Indo-Tibetan Border Police’s Raising Day parade too, where he chose to instead fulfil his role as the BJP President by summoning BJP’s ManoharLalKhattar to get in talks with JJP’s DushyantChautala to form the government in Haryana.
Both, the BSF and the ITBP report directly to the home minister.
It is being said that Shah’s absence was due to his rigorous preparation to campaign for the Jharkhand elections especially after Haryana almost slipped away from the BJP and they witnessed a humiliating defeat in Maharashtra.
Other ministry sources said Shah was in Delhi on Sunday morning but was holding meetings.
“He is also the BJP president and is busy planning and strategising the party campaign for the ongoing Jharkhand Assembly elections,” a ministry source said.
On BSF Raising Day, my greetings to the guardians of India’s frontiers and country’s first line of defence.
From sand to snow, their dedication to serve the motherland in extreme weather conditions is truly inspirational.
I salute the courage & sacrifice of our BSF personnel.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 1, 2019
“It was a little disappointing to learn at the last moment that Amit Shahji won’t be attending,” another BSF officer said. “His presence would have boosted the force’s morale.”
While the BJP government has been chest thumping about the achievements of the paramilitary forces, the reality is that it is fighting a bitter battle with them in court over not granting non-functional upgradation (NFU) to the officers of the armed forces that members of some other central services enjoy, reported The Print.
The Modi government has said that granting the NFU to the armed forces will result in an additional financial pressure on the government and that the armed forces already enjoy various amenities that are not available to the civil services.
The government that is fighting to keep back a mere Rs. 269 crore from its treasury, way lesser than it uses up for other expenditures, is just using another tactic to deprive the forces their rightful due.
Most recently, the government also decided that it would impose a ‘code-of-conduct’ on army veterans, a comment that was met with vehement opposition and anger from ex-army officials.
So, is it then that the Shah-led BJP government at the centre invokes the army for electoral gains and has no real affiliation to their sentiments?
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