People who want to divide country, disrupt peace must fear NSG: Amit Shah

Kolkata: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived in Kolkata on a day-long visit on Sunday (March 1), inaugurated the 29 Special Composite Group Complex of National Security Guard (NSG) in Rajarhat. Without naming anyone, Shah said that people who want to create a divide in the country and disrupt peace must fear the NSG.

This is Shah's second visit to the state after assuming office as the Union Home Minister. In the meantime, Opposition parties hit the streets protesting Shah's visit to the state as they raised 'Go Back' slogans outside the airport today. According to ANI report, members of Students' Federation of India and Left parties, who has assembled outside the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in the northern outskirts of Kolkata, showed black flags and black baloons to Shah upon his arrival in the city.

Addressing a BJP rally at the Sahid Minar Maidan in the city, Amit Shah said, "We want peace in the entire world. In our history of 10,000 years, India has never attacked anyone. We would not allow anyone to disrupt our peace. And anyone who takes the lives of soldiers will have to pay dearly. People who want to divide the nation and disrupt its peace, they should fear the presence of NSG. If they still come, it is the responsibility of the NSG to fight them and defeat them."

"Under Prime Minister Modi, we are following the policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism and NSG takes the leading role in delivering upon it. After PM Modi came to power, a distinct differentiation has been made between India`s defence and foreign policy, which wasn`t like this in the past," he added.

The Union Minister arrived in Kolkata on a day-long visit amid protests and black flag demonstrations by Left parties and the Congress. He addressd a BJP rally at the Sahid Minar Maidan and also inaugurated the Special Composite Group Complex of National Security Guard (NSG).

The Home Minister also exuded confidence that the Centre will meet the expectations of its security organisations and added that "wars are won by the bravery and not equipment."

"Under the leadership of Modi ji, the government of India will definitely fulfill all the expectations that NSG has. We will try to fulfill it within a period of five years. We can provide you good accommodation, the government can take care of the needs of your families, we can provide you with modern equipment and technology, but wars are won by the bravery and not equipment," he added.

"This bravery wins wars, pieces of equipment just play a role. Equipment and technology can never replace this bravery."

Talking about the expansion of the NSG, the Union Home Minister said, "The nation decided to expand the network of NSG after the Mumbai attacks. NSG has finely proven its presence in the entire country gradually. After today's inauguration, the coordination will only get better." 

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP emerged as West Bengal's second-most powerful party, bagging at least 18 of 42 seats, against 22 by Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.