Kolkata: CM Suvendu Adhikari, while celebrating Diwali with Border Security Force personnel along the India-Bangladesh border on Sunday, announced that the state govt would introduce a Seema Mitra Samman from 2027 to recognise and reward BSF and Sashastra Seema Bal personnel for outstanding service.A transparently constituted committee will select the awardees, the CM said. He interacted with jawans and distributed sweets and earthen lamps among them. The CM said he had decided to celebrate Diwali with border forces personnel in the footsteps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Addressing BSF personnel, the CM apologised for what he described as the previous Trinamool govt’s lack of cooperation with the forces.He said that while the preceding Trinamool govt had failed to provide land to fence the international border, his govt started handing over land for border security. “For us, the nation comes first,” the CM said.Adhikari stressed upon the threat of infiltration in his address. He said infiltrators across the border were waiting to escape BSF eyes and come into India. “Infiltrators must be identified and sent back through the same routes through which they entered. We are committed to protecting the interests of Indian citizens and the people of Bengal,” he said.He added that the state govt would strengthen border infrastructure, build police stations in border areas and recruit personnel for better security and coordination.
