Naxalism Is On Brink Of Ending In Bihar & Jharkhand Regions: Home Minister Amit Shah In Kishanganj

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the jawans of Sashastra Seema Bal in Bihar's Kishanganj. He also held a review meeting with officials of BSF, SSB & ITBP.

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated five border outposts (BoPs) of Sashastra Seema Bal and said that Naxalism is on the brink of ending in Bihar and Jharkhand regions.

"SSB jawans have fought a tough fight against Naxalism rampant in the northeast. As a result, Naxalism is on the brink of ending in Bihar and Jharkhand regions, we can even say it is finished here," Amit Shah said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Addressing the jawans, he further remarked that "sitting in Delhi, one thinks you have the easiest duty as we have friendly relations with both nations (Nepal and Bhutan). But when one comes to the border, he realises that you have the toughest duty as it is an open border."

"Responsibility increases if it's an open border. However friendly may the relations be, even if the neighbouring nations have no ill intentions, there are a few elements in society who use open borders for unauthorised earning-be it smuggling, animal smuggling, or infiltration," he added.

Following his address, Amit Shah held a review meeting with officials of  Border Security Force (BSF), SSB, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Kishanganj.

Earlier in the day, the Union Home Minister offered prayers at a famous temple in Bihar, which has for long been considered a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity. Kishanganj district has a Muslim population of more than 50 per cent.

Shah, who had spent the night in Kishanganj, reached the "Budhi Kali Mandir" without much fanfare, news agency PTI reported.

The state unit of the BJP shared a video of Shah performing "aarati" and seeking the blessings of the priests at the temple, which is said to be more than 100 years old and built on land donated by a Muslim nawab.

Amit Shah's Bihar trip began with a BJP rally in the adjoining Purnea district on Friday afternoon and he reached Kishanganj in the evening. Following this, he held a marathon meeting with MLAs, MPs, and other office-bearers of the state where the party lost power in the last month's upheaval.