Fight against terror, attempts to incite religious sentiments will continue: Amit Shah

New Delhi, Oct 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that the fight against terrorism, infiltration and conspiracies to incite religious sentiments will continue even though relative peace has been established in Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast region and Naxal-affected areas.

Addressing a function here on the occasion of the Police Commemoration Day, Shah said the sacrifice of police martyrs will not go in vain and the country will definitely become a fully developed nation by 2047.

"In the last 10 years, relative peace has been established in Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeastern region and LWE-affected areas due to the dedication and efficiency of our security forces. However, our fight is not over.

"We will continue to fight against emerging threats like drones, narcotics trade, cybercrime, attempts to spread unrest through Artificial Intelligence (AI), conspiracies to incite religious sentiments, infiltration, smuggling of illegal weapons and terrorism which are the challenges we face now," he said.

The home minister said since independence, 36,438 police personnel have laid down their lives for the safety and security of the country, with 216 of them in the last year.

He said the country will remain forever grateful for their sacrifice in the nation's development journey.

"I want to assure the family members of the martyrs that their sacrifice will not go in vain. The country will remain safe and achieve its goal despite any challenge which may come in the way and India will definitely become a developed nation by 2047," he said.

Referring to the three new criminal laws, which came into force on July 1, Shah said work to establish the infrastructure for the implementation of the new laws had started five years ago and the remaining work will be completed in the next three years.

"I want to tell the country that India's criminal justice system will be the most modern in the world and full justice up to the Supreme Court could be delivered within three years of the registration of an FIR," he said.

Giving details about the steps taken for the welfare of the police personnel, the home minister said the police personnel and their family members can now avail treatment in any Ayushman hospital after the implementation of the 'Ayushman CAPF' scheme.

To enhance the housing satisfaction of the CAPF personnel, he said approval has been given for the construction of 13,000 houses of which 11,276 will be ready by March next year.

Shah said jawans of the police forces safeguard India's borders from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kutch to Kibithu.

He said the personnel of the forces are always guarding the nation and the borders, whether it is day or night, during festivals or disasters, in extreme heat, rain, or cold waves.

The home minister said the police memorial will continue to inspire the country's youth and remind citizens that the safety and progress that is enjoyed now is because of the supreme sacrifice of thousands of these soldiers.

"We also have a proud history where brave soldiers, from the icy and treacherous peaks of the Himalayas to the harsh deserts of Kutch and Barmer and the vast oceans, safeguard the country fearlessly, ensuring its security," he said.

Shah said no matter how big the threats and challenges are, they cannot stand in the face of the unwavering resolve of the soldiers.

The Police Commemoration Day function was held at the National Police Memorial here.

Before his speech, Shah paid floral tributes to all police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty.

On October 21, 1959, 10 policemen died in the line of duty during an ambush laid by heavily armed Chinese troops at the Hot Springs in Ladakh.

Since then, every year the day is observed as the Police Commemoration Day to honour these martyrs and all other police personnel who died in the line of duty.