Amit Shah announces ‘Smart Border’ project to prevent infiltration

The Centre has decided not only to prevent infiltration but also to deport “each and every infiltrator” to prevent any demographic change in India, Home Minister Amit Shah said while delivering the KF Rustamji Memorial Lecture hosted by the Border Security Force (BSF) here on Friday.

Shah said the government would launch a ‘Smart Border’ project next year to create an “impenetrable security grid” along the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh to prevent infiltration and defeat what he described as a “conspiracy” to bring about “artificial changes” in India’s demography.

He added that the charter for the high-powered demography mission announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech last year would be finalised in the coming days.

“We will not allow demographic changes. The BSF has to stop this conspiracy to alter the country’s demography,” Shah said.

The Home Minister also announced that the government would soon launch a major welfare programme for BSF and other paramilitary personnel to ensure they could guard the borders without worrying about their families.

Shah stressed the need to identify and remove “every single infiltrator” and prevent demographic change.

“When we view border security as a matter of territorial responsibility rather than an isolated task, only then can we effectively tackle all challenges before us,” he said.

Shah to visit Bikaner on May 25-26

New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah will visit the border district of Bikaner in Rajasthan on a two-day tour on May 25 and 26, during which he is also likely to hold a high-level meeting with the Collectors and Superintendents of Police of the state’s five border districts — Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Jaisalmer, Barmer and Hanumangarh — along with officials from various security and intelligence agencies. According to sources, Shah's visit comes amid rising incidents of cross-border smuggling of narcotics and weapons through drones from Pakistan into Rajasthan’s border sectors, particularly Bikaner and Sri Ganganagar. TNS

“Most importantly, we must recognise the dangers ahead. It is our responsibility to remain alert regarding illegal infiltration across our borders aimed at altering our demographic structure. We must also take concrete steps to address the impact of narcotics and fake currency on our economy,” he added.

In an apparent reference to the BJP having formed the government in West Bengal, Shah said he could state with confidence that Tripura, Assam and West Bengal would have governments that, as a matter of policy, believe infiltration into the country must not happen. The BJP is currently in power in Tripura and Assam.

Emphasising that the Centre’s approach to terrorism signalled that the “era of talks is over”, Shah said the Ministry of Home Affairs would roll out a comprehensive design plan under which technological assistance would be used to transform the entire 6,000-km border into a uniform smart border.

“Within the coming year itself, the government is moving forward with equipping BSF security systems with every kind of technology to create an impenetrable border security grid,” Shah said.

“Very soon, the MHA will present before the nation a smart border project equipped with drones, radars, advanced cameras and other modern technologies,” he added.

Shah also said he would soon hold a meeting with the Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam to create a stronger security grid aimed at infiltration control.