Union HM Amit Shah graces BSF’s 61st Foundation Day in Bhuj

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday graced the 61st Foundation Day of the Border Security Force (BSF) as the Chief Guest at the 176th Battalion campus in Haripar, Bhuj. The event marked a significant moment of tribute, resolve, and recognition for the country’s largest border guarding force.Shah began his visit by paying homage to BSF personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. He laid a wreath at the memorial, honouring the sacrifices that have fortified India’s borders for decades.Addressing the gathering, the Home Minister delivered a strong message on national security and infiltration.“Preventing infiltration is not only necessary for the security of the country, but also essential to protect our democratic system from being corrupted,” Shah said. He criticised political groups opposing the ongoing ‘ghuspaithiya hatao’ campaign and the voter list purification process carried out by the Election Commission under the SIR procedure.“I want to state very clearly today that we will identify and remove every single infiltrator from this country,” he asserted.

VIDEO | Bhuj, Gujarat: Addressing the 61st Foundation Day of the Border Security Force, Union Home Minister Amit Shah (@AmitShah) says, "Preventing infiltration is not only necessary for the security of the country, but also essential to protect our democratic system from being… pic.twitter.com/zD1bXQbUNE

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 21, 2025

The Border Security Force, raised in 1965 after the India–Pakistan war, was established to secure India’s borders following the inadequacy of State Armed Police Battalions. Starting with 25 battalions, the BSF has grown into the world’s largest border guarding force, currently comprising 193 battalions (including three NDRF units) and seven artillery regiments. It safeguards international borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh while supporting multiple internal security operations.Beyond its primary mandate along the western and eastern borders, the BSF also plays a crucial role in anti-infiltration operations in the Kashmir Valley, counter-insurgency duties in the Northeast, anti-Naxal operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, and security management at Integrated Check Posts along both international borders, showcasing its operational strength and wide-ranging achievements.
Shah highlighted the BSF’s decisive role in Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. BSF personnel on the Jammu frontier destroyed or damaged over 118 Pakistani posts, “dismantling Pakistan’s entire surveillance system,” he recalled. Even during peacetime, the force remains vigilant, striking hostile positions based on precise intelligence and swift tactical execution.He also noted the BSF’s long-standing legacy of valour. Till 2024, over 1,992 personnel have laid down their lives, and 1,330 have been decorated with prestigious honours — including 1 Maha Vir Chakra, 6 Kirti Chakras, 13 Vir Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras, 56 Sena Medals, and 1,241 Police Medals.
Shah praised the BSF for maintaining the nation’s security for more than six decades, calling the force “a pillar of strength that protects India’s sovereignty day and night.”Last year’s Raising Day celebration was held in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, where Shah similarly acknowledged the exceptional sacrifice and dedication of BSF personnel.The Home Minister reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to modernising and empowering the force, ensuring India’s borders remain secure under the watch of its frontline defenders.

(State Correspondent)