Delhi: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh today led the nation in paying tribute to the country’s police and paramilitary forces, laying a wreath at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day. The day honors the ten brave policemen who were ambushed and martyred by heavily armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh, in 1959.
In a deeply moving address, Rajnath Singh expressed profound gratitude, hailing the armed forces and police as the indispensable “pillars of national security.” He emphasized that while the military defends the country’s geographical integrity, the police forces are crucial in safeguarding “society and social integrity.”
“The military and police function on different platforms, but their mission is the same—to protect the nation,” he stated. “As we look towards Viksit Bharat by 2047, balancing the external and internal security of the nation is more important than ever.”
The Defense Minister acknowledged the complex challenges facing the nation, pointing to instability on the borders alongside the emergence of new types of crime, terrorism, and ideological wars within society. He noted that crime has become “more organised, invisible, and complex,” designed to sow chaos and challenge the nation’s stability.
Shri Rajnath Singh specifically commended the police for their decisive role in tackling Naxalism, a long-standing internal security threat. Attributing the success to the concerted efforts of the police, CRPF, BSF, and local administration, he exuded confidence that the problem will be eradicated by March next year.
“Areas that were once known as the Red Corridor have now transformed into growth corridors,” he asserted, highlighting that districts previously affected by left-wing extremism are now flourishing as educational hubs.
The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to modernizing police forces and fully recognizing their contributions. He credited the establishment of the National Police Memorial in 2018 under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership as a landmark step to honor the police forces’ sacrifices.
Today’s police are being equipped with state-of-the-art tools, including surveillance systems, drones, forensic labs, and digital policing capabilities. Shri Rajnath Singh called for optimal utilization of these resources through better coordination and integration among security agencies.
He concluded by stressing the interdependent relationship between police and society, urging citizens to work as partners and respect the law to build a “more robust & vigilant” security apparatus for the nation.
