BHOPAL: Union home minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that people residing in the border areas are the biggest strategic asset for the country.
The government will build 1,400 new bunkers for individual households in order to provide security to those who face shelling by Pakistani forces. "All those who live on the border areas are not only common citizens, but the biggest strategic asset for the country. To provide them security, we have instructed to construct 1,400 new bunkers and the state government has also assured to get them ready in a few months", said Rajnath Singh, while addressing reporters on the completion of four years of the
NDA government at the Centre.
Replying to a query on residents being forced to flee their homes along the Line of Control (LoC) due to frequent shelling by Pakistan, Singh said that India wants peace with its neighbours, including Pakistan, and prefers to maintain ceasefire on the border.
But Pakistan's unprovoked ceasefire violations have compelled India to give a befitting reply along the border in Jammu and Kashmir region. India also wants Pakistan to control terrorism which doesn't seem to be working. "Recently, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) from both India and Pakistan held talks over ceasefire violations and decided to stick to the commitment. If India would not have retaliated, how could Pakistan agree for an agreement", said Singh.
Pakistan must stop sponsoring terrorism and cooperate with India in dealing with terrorists, Sing said, as he claimed that there has been considerable improvement in the national security situation of India during the four-year rule of the
Modi government.
There has been no big terror attack in the country in the last four years, which is a big achievement, Singh claimed.
"Pakistan-backed terror attacks in
Gurdaspur and
Pathankot airbase of Punjab were foiled by our security forces. After this, no big attack has been reported from any part", Singh said, adding that the government has also succeeded in restricting Maoists to limited areas.
"Earlier, 126 districts were affected by Maoist violence in the country. In the last four years, the count has come down to 90. Of these, Maoist activities have been restricted to 10-11 districts, though reports of sporadic attacks come from 50 to 60 districts," Singh said.
Chhattisgarh government has formed a new Bastaria Batallion, which is a unique decision, he added.