The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday blamed the West Bengal government for delay in fencing along the India-Bangladesh border.

Singh said that the Home Ministry had notified the Bengal government to acquire land so that fences could be constructed along the border between the two nations.

“Part of the fencing is pending in West Bengal-Bangladesh bordering areas. We had held a meeting with the state government officials and they had assured that they will acquire land on which the fence was to be constructed. There is no delay from our side. If there is a delay, it is on the part of the West Bengal government,” said Singh.

The Home Minister was speaking at Assam’s Dhubri district while inaugurating the smart fence or the BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) under Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) on Indo- Bangladesh border.

Bengal shares 2216.70 km its border with Bangladesh. Of the total 2216.70 km, 913.080 km falls within in South Bengal frontier of BSF, of which 374 km is fenced and 538 km is unfenced. The portion of the border that falls under the North Bengal frontier is also unfenced.

Experts claim that land acquisition is a major obstacle in constructing these fences. Despite the Bengal government setting up a committee to acquire land, the delay seems that the 2019 deadline is likely to be missed.

Sources in the BSF say that a fence is the only way to put a check on cattle smuggling across the border. 
“There are some vulnerable spots through which the cattle smuggling takes place. These are mostly near the unfenced border. If we need to keep a check on cattle smuggling besides smuggling of illegal arms and fake Indian currency notes (FICN), fences need to be constructed,” said an official of BSF on anonymity.

The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday blamed the West Bengal government for delay in fencing along the India-Bangladesh border. Singh said that the Home Ministry had notified the Bengal government to acquire land so that fences could be constructed along the border between the two nations.

The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday blamed the West Bengal government for delay in fencing along the India-Bangladesh border. Singh said that the Home Ministry had notified the Bengal government to acquire land so that fences could be constructed along the border between the two nations. “Part of the fencing is pending in West Bengal-Bangladesh bordering areas. We had held a meeting with the state government officials and they had assured that they will acquire land on which the fence was to be constructed. There is no delay from our side. If there is a delay, it is on the part of the West Bengal government,” said Singh. The Home Minister was speaking at Assam’s Dhubri district while inaugurating the smart fence or the BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) under Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) on Indo- Bangladesh border. Bengal shares 2216.70 km its border with Bangladesh. Of the total 2216.70 km, 913.080 km falls within in South Bengal frontier of BSF, of which 374 km is fenced and 538 km is unfenced. The portion of the border that falls under the North Bengal frontier is also unfenced. Experts claim that land acquisition is a major obstacle in constructing these fences. Despite the Bengal government setting up a committee to acquire land, the delay seems that the 2019 deadline is likely to be missed. Sources in the BSF say that a fence is the only way to put a check on cattle smuggling across the border. “There are some vulnerable spots through which the cattle smuggling takes place. These are mostly near the unfenced border. If we need to keep a check on cattle smuggling besides smuggling of illegal arms and fake Indian currency notes (FICN), fences need to be constructed,” said an official of BSF on anonymity.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh blames Bengal government for delay in fencing of Indo-Bangla border

Newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today stressed on media adopting self-regulation and asserted that the government had no plan to regulate news portals and media websites.

Dismissing the government vs media debate, he said his ministry would work in a direction where any media, whether public broadcaster Prasar Bharati or private channels, becomes the 'voice of people'.

"The Prime Minister is very clear that the media in our country is one of the very important pillars of democracy and they have to self-regulate," Mr Rathore told reporters.

Mr Rathore assumed charge as Minister of State (Independent charge) of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry after replacing Smriti Zubin Irani. He also holds the portfolio of Sports Ministry.

In the Indian media, the minister said, self-regulation was done in various layers, first by a journalist and then by editors. The government believes in self-regulation by the media, he added.

The comments assume significance in the backdrop of a controversial press release issued by the ministry last month on fake news. The communique was widely criticised by media organisations and subsequently withdrawn after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention.

To a query over the ministry issuing an order last month for the constitution of a committee to frame rules to regulate news portals and media websites, Mr Rathore said, I think you have misunderstood it.

He said Prasar Bharati will be strengthened and high priority would be given to better and informative programmes.

"It is not us vs them...It is not about two teams. It is about a collective responsibility that media becomes the voice of the people, whether it is Prasar Bharati or private network or channel. We will work in this direction," the Union minister said.

Mr Rathore, who was a junior minister in the ministry, said that in the last four years, the government was able to establish a two-way communication with the people of the country.

"We will continue to do that," he said.

On the challenges posed by social media, Mr Rathore said social media platforms were totally independent.

"We hope people put across their views with responsibility," he added.

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore dismissed the government vs media debate, stressing on self-regulation.

Newly appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today stressed on media adopting self-regulation and asserted that the government had no plan to regulate news portals and media websites. Dismissing the government vs media debate, he said his ministry would work in a direction where any media, whether public broadcaster Prasar Bharati or private channels, becomes the 'voice of people'. "The Prime Minister is very clear that the media in our country is one of the very important pillars of democracy and they have to self-regulate," Mr Rathore told reporters. Mr Rathore assumed charge as Minister of State (Independent charge) of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry after replacing Smriti Zubin Irani. He also holds the portfolio of Sports Ministry. In the Indian media, the minister said, self-regulation was done in various layers, first by a journalist and then by editors. The government believes in self-regulation by the media, he added. The comments assume significance in the backdrop of a controversial press release issued by the ministry last month on fake news. The communique was widely criticised by media organisations and subsequently withdrawn after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention. To a query over the ministry issuing an order last month for the constitution of a committee to frame rules to regulate news portals and media websites, Mr Rathore said, I think you have misunderstood it. He said Prasar Bharati will be strengthened and high priority would be given to better and informative programmes. "It is not us vs them...It is not about two teams. It is about a collective responsibility that media becomes the voice of the people, whether it is Prasar Bharati or private network or channel. We will work in this direction," the Union minister said. Mr Rathore, who was a junior minister in the ministry, said that in the last four years, the government was able to establish a two-way communication with the people of the country. "We will continue to do that," he said. On the challenges posed by social media, Mr Rathore said social media platforms were totally independent. "We hope people put across their views with responsibility," he added.

No plans to regulate news websites: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

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