NewZNew (Attari/Amritsar) : Acceding to the request of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, the Union Home Minister Mr. Raj Nath Singh today announced to install full truck scanner at Integrated Check Post Attari to further boost the Indo-Pak trade on one hand and to mitigate the woes of the traders due to non-availability of this facility on the other.
Speaking on the specially organized function to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of Border Secutiry Force (BSF) here at Joint Check Post after laying the foundation stone of viewers’ gallery at a cost of Rs. 24 crore. Mr. Raj Nath Singh assured the Chief Minister that he would soon convene a special meeting of the top brass of his ministry to sort out all the pending issue related to the border areas of the state, particularly the issue of giving compensation to the farmers doing cultivation across the border fence. The Union Home Minister lauded the superb contribution of BSF in safe guarding our borders from external aggression as well as internal disturbances and termed BSF as the ‘frontline of the nation’s deffence ’. Mr. Raj Nath Singh categorically said that our neighboring country Pakistan would never succeed in its nefarious designs to destabilize our country. He said our peace loving people wanted a friendly neighbor adding he mentioned the paramount significance of neighborly relations and bonhomie “saying one can change friends but can’t neighbors”.
On the occasion Mr. Raj Nath Singh also honored all the women participants of border safari 2015 who covered this journey from Bhuj in Gujrat to Attari in Punjab by covering huge distance of 2300 KM.
In his address the Chief Minster thanked Mr. Raj Nath Singh for his maiden visit after becoming country’s Home Minister and urged him to spare entire day to redress the grievances the people of border areas adding he said these peoples were leading a tough life and were the real patriots. Highly impressed by the performance of the BSF women and Tata Steels Adventure Sports Foundation Stone for the successful culmination of BSF Golden Jubilee All Women BORDER- Safari 2015 on camel back, Mr Badal announced a cash price award of Rs. one lac each to 27 such participants and thus gave away a cheque of Rs. 27 lac . He also raised the issue of installing full truck scanner at ICP Attari to facilitate hastle free trade and also handed over a letter to Mr. Raj Nath Singh in this regard, citing ‘the volume of trade through integrated check post at Attari has been increasing every day. The traders have been facing difficulties due to lack of full truck scanner at ICP, Attari. Absence of this facility is not only slowing down the trade movement, but also at time runs the risk of not detecting illicit cargo. Intallation of full truck scanner will resolve both the issues’.
Earlier, a colourful variety programme including camel acrobats besides the scintillating performance of Gidha and Bhangra by the BSF personal regaled the audience. The Home Minister along with Mr. Badal also witnessed the retreat ceremony.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Union State Minister for Social Justice Mr. Vijay Sampla, Information and Public Relations Minsiter Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Animal Husbandry Minister Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike, Local Minister Mr. Anil Joshi, CPS Mr. Virsa Singh Valtoha, Mr. K.D.Bhandari, MLA Mr. Manjit Singh Manna. Director General BSF Mr. D.K. Pathak, Additional DG BSF (Western Command) Mr. M.K.Singla DIG BSF Amritsar Mr. M.F.Farooqui were also present during the function. Apart from these, several leaders and workers of SAD-BJP also attended the function.
