India won't be safe till its borders are secure: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the strategy and modern technological capabilities of the armed Sashastra Seema Bal personnel regarding border security during his visit to Siliguri, on August 21, 2026. X/@AmitShah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (August 21, 2026) said it was “unfortunate” that even after Independence, Vande Mataram was not accepted “wholeheartedly” in the country.

He hailed the 80th Independence Day celebration at the Red Fort as a “unique occasion” that included the full rendition of the national song .

“Through this single song, this single literary creation, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee established that independent India must move forward by embracing cultural nationalism. It is unfortunate that even after independence and the partition of the country, Vande Mataram was never wholeheartedly embraced,” the Home Minister said, addressing a gathering in Siliguri, West Bengal .

His remarks came amidst the Congress party’s recent announcement to feature only the first two stanzas of the national song at party functions, a move which Mr. Shah has described as “anti-national”.

He termed the enhancement of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, a “historic decision”. The legislation makes any obstruction or insult to the ‘Vande Mataram’ a criminal offence.

In Siliguri, the Minister inaugurated exhibitions on the three criminal laws – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. Mr. Shah said implementing the three criminal laws in West Bengal was a “decisive” step towards “replacing the environment of fear with that of trust”.

He said the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government did not notify the new laws as it wanted to protect the “syndicate, cut money and extortion regime”.

With West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari by his side, Mr. Shah said the BJP government has brought in the rule of law in the State. “Earlier, all you could hear was the sound of bombs... The State is now witnessing the rule of law,” he said, alleging that the “cadre raj” during the Left Front’s rule was replaced by “goonda raj” under the Trinamool.

Mr. Shah, who visited the headquarters of the Sashastra Seema Bal in Siliguri, inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for several projects and reiterated his government’s resolve to curb infiltration from across the international border. “I repeat my firm stand to unearth every single infiltrator in this State, throw them out using the detect-delete-deport mechanism,” he said.

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