Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the revocation of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was a major step by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the safety and security of the region and elimination of terrorism from the country.
“To eradicate terrorism from J&K and protect Kashmir, the Prime Minister has taken a huge step by revoking Article 370, we will be able to restore long-term peace in Kashmir,” Mr. Shah said at a function in Manesar, Haryana.
Mr. Shah was addressing the commandos of the elite counter-terror and counter-hijack force of the National Security Guard (NSG) on its 35th founding day.
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After the revocation of Article 370, the country had entered a decisive phase to eliminate cross-border terrorism sponsored by the western neighbour and NSG commandos and other commandos trained by it in States have formed an impregnable shield around the country.
“As traditional wars are not fought any longer, India has been a victim of Pakistan sponsored terrorism... any force can use weapons but victory can only be achieved by the strength, courage and patriotism of the commandos. Terrorism is a curse for any civilised society and an impediment to its development. No country in the world has fought terrorism for such a long period like India, we have zero tolerance towards terrorism,” he said.
After a review in 2015, the NSG had been provided with equipment for mobility surveillance, anti-drone technology and others, he noted.
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The NSG doesn’t have a full-time Director General after 1984 batch IPS officer Sudeep Lakhtakia retired on July 31.