Whole country stands by you, Shinde tells BSF in J&K

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Tuesday interacted with Border Security Force and the Central Armed Police Force in Samba district of Jammu Kashmir, reviewing the situation along the international border with Pakistan. Accompanied by Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Shinde assured the Border Security Force that the government was firmly behind them, assuring them of their continuous support. “We have come here to promise you that we stand by you, the PM and the whole country stands by you,” he said. [caption id=“attachment_1186363” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. PTI[/caption] Shinde expressed the government’s “full support” for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and said they have been granted the status of ex-servicemen like their counterparts in the defence services. “The CAPF are not given the status of ex-servicemen like the defence forces. When I said this to the PM, he asked me to bring a note regarding this in the Cabinet. You all will be happy to know that CAPF have been granted the status of ex-servicemen,” Shinde said. “You’ll are the brave ones fighting at the border to keep our country safe,” he said. There has been tension along the international border in Jammu region following unprovoked firing by Pakistan Rangers at 25 places on the night of 18 October. Earlier on Monday, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked the Centre to respond appropriately if talks between the two nations do not work. “The Centre should look at other options if talks are not helping put an end to ceasefire violations along the LoC,” Abdullah had said.