India will never forget Pulwama attack: Doval

Says the CRPF has a key role in ensuring peace.

In this October 25, 2018 file photo, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval gestures during his speech at Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture 2018, in New Delhi.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval said on Tuesday that the country had neither forgotten, nor would it ever forget, the Pulwama terror attack .

This is the first time Mr. Doval has commented on the February 14 attack by a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber, in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed, and the subsequent precision air strike by the Indian Air Force on a training camp of the militant outfit in Pakistan’s Balakot.

Mr. Doval, who was the chief guest at the 80 Raising Day of the CRPF, said the country’s leadership was capable of retaliation. “What shall we do, what should be our intention, our path, our reaction, the country’s leadership is capable of deciding...whether the action is against terrorists or those who support these terrorists. We can face every kind of challenge,” he said.

He said the loss suffered by the families of the soldiers could not be compensated, but the entire country stood with them.

Mr. Doval asked CRPF jawans to “constantly” enhance their professionalism, training, physical capabilities and quick response skills.

“World history is replete with examples of weak internal security mechanisms having led to the loss of independence, constitutional crises and collapse of governments. After World War II, of the 37 nations that faced such a crisis, 28 suffered it because of internal security problems. Therefore, the CRPF, as India’s lead internal security force, has an important role in ensuring peace, and law and order,” he said. The National Security Adviser praised the CPRF for moving from one conflict- or combat-theatre to another in a short time, and for being a very “credible” force to ensure law and order anywhere.

The CRPF, with 3 lakh personnel, has 246 operational battalions. It was raised in 1939 as the Crown Representatives Police during British rule and was renamed as the CRPF in 1949. It was granted the President’s Colour this day in 1950 by the first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It is the highest honour bestowed on a force in recognition of exceptional service to the nation, in times of war and peace.

CRPF will not celebrate Holi

The CRPF will not celebrate Holi this year as a mark of respect to its 40 jawans killed last month in a terror attack, the force’s chief said on Tuesday.

Paying tributes to the slain personnel, CRPF Director General R.R. Bhatnagar said the force was creating a ‘mobile app’ to provide help to the families of jawans killed in action.