Srinagar, Apr 17: Hailing the Central Reserve Police Force for its critical role in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the force maintained peace in Jammu & Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 “without firing a single bullet or allowing a single booth to be looted.” Shah emphasized that CRPF’s contribution is unparallelled in fighting terrorists in Kashmir.
Addressing the 85th Raising Day celebrations of the CRPF in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, Shah said, “At a time when many feared unrest in Kashmir, the CRPF stood firm with such discipline that history was made.”
Calling the CRPF a “symbol of the nation’s resolve,” Shah credited the force for safeguarding Kashmir from unrest in the aftermath of the constitutional change in August 2019.
“The international community watched with anxiety, but it was CRPF and other security agencies who ensured not even a spark of chaos erupted,” he said.
Shah said the peaceful conduct of Assembly and local body elections in Jammu and Kashmir over the past few years was largely due to the CRPF’s alert presence. “No insurgency could rise when faced with CRPF’s strategic discipline and preparedness,” he added.
He also praised the force for foiling several terror plots through intelligence coordination and tactical deployments. “In the last five years, the CRPF has not only ensured peace but has broken the backbone of separatist movements,” Shah said.
Reflecting on CRPF’s wider history, Shah said the force was at the frontlines of every crisis, including providing security for Amarnath and Vaishno Devi pilgrimages and maintaining order during major gatherings. “The people of J&K feel safe when CRPF is present,” he said.
Paying tribute to the 2,264 CRPF personnel who laid down their lives, Shah said, “Their sacrifice will be remembered in India’s golden book of independence in 2047.”
Highlighting welfare measures for security forces, he said the Modi government had introduced Ayushman CAPF health cards, improved air courier services, launched e-housing portals, and expanded facilities for women personnel.
He also credited the force for participating in national initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, and for contributing to environmental goals by planting over six crore saplings across the country.
Jammu and Kashmir’s current peace and development owe a great deal to the “silent, firm, and courageous service” of the CRPF, shah concluded.
