Will throw out every 'ghuspaithiya' from India: Shah; takes veiled jibe at TMC over SIR exercise

Bhuj (Gujarat), Nov 21 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the government will throw out "ghuspaithiye" (infiltrators) from the country and alleged that some political parties are opposing the SIR exercise as they want the names of infiltrators to remain on the electoral rolls.

Addressing the BSF Diamond Jubilee (61st Raising Day) celebrations in Bhuj, Shah said SIR is the “purification” of the voters’ list.

Shah’s remarks on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ rolls came a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a strongly worded letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, asking him to immediately halt the exercise, which she claimed was “chaotic, coercive and dangerous.” Banerjee alleged that the SIR of the electoral rolls in Bengal had reached a “deeply alarming stage” and was being conducted in an “unplanned, dangerous” manner.

"Today, the BSF (Border Security Force) is engaged in preventing infiltration at all borders of the country. Stopping infiltration is not only essential for national security but also to protect the democratic system from being polluted," Shah said.

Describing SIR as the “purification” of the voters’ list, Shah accused some political parties of trying to weaken the government’s campaign against illegal infiltrators.

"These parties are opposing the ongoing SIR and the voter list purification process being carried out by the Election Commission because they want to ensure that the names of infiltrators remain on the electoral rolls,” he added.

At the Diamond Jubilee celebration, Shah asserted: “Today, I want to make it very clear that we will deport every single 'ghuspaithiya' (infiltrator) from this country, one by one. This is the resolve of the Modi government to deport each and every infiltrator from the country.

"Who will be the chief minister of any state in the country, or who will be the prime minister, is a decision that can only be made by the citizens of India. Infiltrators do not have the right to pollute our democratic system and influence our democratic decisions," Shah said.

Stressing that SIR is a process to secure and purify India’s democracy, he urged every citizen to fully support it.

"I also want to warn those political parties which are engaged in protecting these infiltrators. The Bihar election was the mandate of the people of the country. And that mandate is against the presence of infiltrators in our country,” Shah said.

In the recently concluded Bihar assembly elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) decimated the Mahagathbandhan—an alliance of Congress, RJD and other parties—winning over 200 seats in the 243-member House.

"Those parties working to secure infiltrators’ place in the voter list should know that the people of the country will never support such intentions," Shah added.

At the BSF event, Shah also praised its role in Naxal-affected areas. He said that thanks to the joint efforts of all security forces, India will be free from the Naxal menace very soon.

"We are determined to free the country from the Naxal problem forever 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, the BSF has forced 127 Maoists to surrender, arrested 73, and neutralised 22,” Shah said.

He added that not just Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the entire nation salutes the bravery and exemplary courage of BSF jawans. The Home Minister noted that so far, 2,013 brave soldiers of the BSF have made the supreme sacrifice while securing the country’s borders.

On the occasion, Shah said the BSF now has 193 battalions and a strength of over 2.76 lakh jawans. The force currently guards and monitors over 2,289 km of the border with Pakistan and over 4,095 km of the border with Bangladesh.

Shah announced that the coming year will be dedicated to the welfare of the force’s personnel and their families.

"The 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 modernising the force, with a target of transforming it into the world’s most modern and most capable border security force within five years,” he said.

“In the coming days, we are also introducing a new concept called e-border security. We have completed the trial phase. I am happy to announce that the BSF has played a major role in implementing the e-border security concept, and the initiative was also taken by it,” Shah said.

He also praised the BSF’s role during Operation Sindoor, launched by India’s armed forces to avenge the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

"During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan took our attack on terrorists as an attack on them, and when the Pakistani army came into action, our BSF soldiers left no stone unturned in giving them a befitting reply,” Shah said.

"Due to the efforts of the BSF and the Army, Pakistan announced a unilateral truce, and because of this, it became clear to the entire world that India’s border should not be violated. Otherwise, they will have to face the consequences,” he added. PTI PJT PD NR NSK