Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the BJP-led NDA’s victory in the Bihar elections is a mandate against infiltrators in the country, as citizens will never support parties that support such illegal immigrants.
Shah said some political parties are opposing the ongoing SIR (Special Intensive Review) process of the Election Commission because they want to ensure that the names of infiltrators remain in the voter list. He described the SIR as a “purge” of voter rolls.
He was addressing the Diamond Jubilee (61st Raising Day) function of BSF at Bhuj in Kutch district of Gujarat.
He said, “Today BSF (Border Security Force) is engaged in stopping infiltration on all the borders of the country. Stopping infiltration is not only necessary for national security but is also necessary to protect the democratic system of the country from being polluted.”
However, some political parties are trying to weaken the government’s anti-infiltration campaign, he said.
The opposition, including the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, where assembly elections are due next year, has objected to the SIR, claiming it risks disenfranchising millions of voters.
Shah said, “They are protesting against the SIR issued by the Election Commission and the voter list purification process. I want to make it clear that we will drive out every single infiltrator from this country. This is our resolve.”
The Home Minister said, “Who will be the Chief Minister of any state in the country or who will be the Prime Minister, this decision can only be taken by the citizens of India. Infiltrators have no right to pollute our democratic system and influence our democratic decisions.”
Emphasizing that SIR is a process to safeguard and purify India’s democracy, he said every citizen should fully support it.
Shah said, “I also want to warn those political parties who are engaged in protecting these infiltrators. Bihar elections were the mandate of the people of the country. And this mandate is against the presence of infiltrators in our country.”
In the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) demolished the Grand Alliance, an alliance of Congress, RJD and other parties, and won over 200 seats in the 243-member House.
Shah said, “Parties working to ensure the inclusion of infiltrators in the voter list should know that the people of the country will never support such intentions.”
During the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of BSF, Shah praised its role in Naxal-hit areas. He said that with the joint efforts of all the security forces, India will very soon be free from the Naxal problem.
Shah said, “We are determined to free the country forever from the Naxal menace by March 31, 2026, and pave the way for the development of our tribal brothers and sisters. The entire corridor from Tirupati to Pashupati will be safe and will progress like the rest of India. In Chhattisgarh, BSF has forced 127 Maoists to surrender, arrested 73 and killed 22.”
He said that not only Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the entire country salutes the bravery and exemplary courage of the BSF soldiers. The Home Minister told the gathering that so far 2,013 brave BSF soldiers have made the supreme sacrifice while protecting the country’s borders.
On the occasion, Shah said that the BSF now has 193 battalions and more than 2.76 lakh soldiers. He said that this force currently guards and monitors the 2,289 km long border with Pakistan and more than 4,095 km long border with Bangladesh.
Shah said the coming year would be dedicated to the welfare of the force’s personnel and their families.
He said, “BSF and the Home Department will take various initiatives for the welfare of the personnel and their families. Additionally, the coming year will be dedicated to the modernization of the force, with the aim of transforming it into the most modern and most capable border guarding force in the world within five years.”
He said, “In the coming days, we are also introducing a new concept called e-Border Security. We have completed its testing phase. I am happy to announce that BSF has played a major role in implementing the e-Border Security concept and it has also been initiated by BSF.”
Shah also praised the role of BSF during Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian Armed Forces to avenge the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Shah said, “During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan considered our attack on terrorists as an attack on itself and when the Pakistani Army came into action, our BSF troops left no stone unturned in giving a befitting reply to them.”
“Due to the efforts of BSF and Army, Pakistan declared unilateral ceasefire and this made it clear to the whole world that India’s border should not be violated. Otherwise they will have to face the consequences,” he said.