New Delhi, Apr 17: Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370.
Leading the 85th CRPF Raising Day celebrations in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, Shah hailed the CRPF for its decisive role in restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
Addressing the parade as chief guest, he praised the CRPF’s unwavering commitment to national security, particularly in the volatile aftermath of the constitutional shift in J&K.
“At a time when many feared unrest, the CRPF ensured peace with such discipline that not a single bullet was fired, nor a single polling booth looted. That in itself is historic,” the Home Minister said.
He described the force as a “symbol of the nation’s resolve” in countering both terrorism and separatism in Kashmir.
“From militancy in Kashmir to red terror in the forests, CRPF has stood as India’s first line of internal defence,” Shah said.
He paid tribute to the 2264 CRPF personnel who were killed in the line of duty, saying that their legacy would shine in the golden book of India’s centenary celebrations of independence in 2047.
“The presence of CRPF at any site of unrest reassures the nation, the Home Minister said. “They do not just hold the line, they restore order.”
Tracing the force’s journey since its formation in 1939 as the Crown Representative Police, he credited Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for giving the CRPF its post-independence identity and mission.
“Now the world’s largest paramilitary force, the CRPF comprises 3 lakh personnel operating across 248 battalions and multiple zonal and sectoral headquarters,” Shah said.
He singled out the CRPF’s role in J&K after the Centre revoked Article 370 in August 2019.
“The international community watched with bated breath, but it was the CRPF and other security forces that ensured peace without provocation,” the Home Minister said.
“Assembly elections and local body polls in the years following the move were conducted with minimal incidents, thanks largely to the presence of CRPF and allied forces. No insurgency could rise when faced with the discipline and strategic preparedness of CRPF,” he said.
Shah also credited the CRPF with foiling several terrorist attempts in the region over the past five years, often through coordinated intelligence-sharing and tactical forward deployments.
Beyond J&K, he highlighted CRPF’s role in rolling back Naxalism.
“From Pashupatinath to Tirupati, Naxals once dreamed of spreading red terror. Today, they are confined to just four districts—and that too, because of the bravery of CRPF, especially the Cobra Battalion,” the Home Minister said.
“By establishing over 400 forward operating bases in Naxal-hit areas over the last five years, CRPF has helped reduce Maoist violence by over 70 percent in a decade. We have set a clear goal: by March 31, 2026, Naxalism will be eradicated from Indian soil, and CRPF will make it happen,” he said.
Shah recounted several landmark moments in CRPF history, from the 1959 Hot Spring standoff with Chinese troops to the 1965 battle at Sardar Post against Pakistan, to foiling attacks on Parliament and Ram Janmabhoomi in the early 2000s.
He said that CRPF had consistently performed with courage on every front, whether it is yatra security at Amarnath and Vaishno Devi, or maintaining peace during massive gatherings like the Maha Kumbh.
The Home Minister also acknowledged CRPF’s international deployments under UN peacekeeping missions in Sri Lanka, Haiti, Kosovo, and Liberia.
“With 2708 medals, the CRPF has been the most decorated among all CAPFs,” he said.
Shah also highlighted the Modi government’s welfare initiatives for CAPFs, including Ayushman CAPF health cards, expanded air courier services, e-housing portal, and increased female recruitment with new barrack infrastructure.
He also noted CRPF’s participation in national campaigns like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Har Ghar Tiranga, as well as a major green initiative where CAPFs have planted over six crore saplings across India in the last five years.
