Shinde celebrates Holi with BSF jawans near Indo-Pak border

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today celebrated Holi with BSF jawans at a post along the Indo-Pakistan border in Rajasthan.

Shinde took an early morning special flight from Delhi to Jaisalmer and reached the Bawlianwala border post in an Mi-17 helicopter of the IAF.

The Minister, who donned the dark green BSF combat dress, not only joined the celebratory dancing of the jawans to the tune of popular Rajasthani folk songs at the post, but also mingled with troopers and applied 'gulal' to them.

He also asked the troops not to let lose their guard.

A number of jawans were subsequently seen applying 'gulal' to him, resulting in a rush. The Bawlianwala border post, where Shinde spent close to 2.5 hours with the jawans and officers of the force, is near Pakistan's Bilawal post.

"I have never had as much happiness in my 40 years of political life as I am today with you. I wanted to share the happiness of the festival and bring smiles to your faces as you tirelessly work to keep India's borders safe," Shinde said as he addressed a 'Sainik Sammelan' here.

"I usually celebrate Holi with family and friends but now being the Home Minister you are also my family, and hence I am with you," Shinde said amidst claps.

During the visit, Shinde also inspected the border fencing and was briefed by senior officials of the paramilitary force including its Director General Subhash Joshi.

The troopers also put forth a number of demands related to pay parity with the Army, pension benefits and other career progression grievances to Shinde.

The Minister took stock of the barracks and other facilities for jawans at the border post. He later gifted fruits and donated Rs 40,000 for the welfare of the troops at the border outpost.
Bawlianwala is one the strategic BSF posts in the Jaisalmer sector. Earlier, Shinde also visited the Tanot Mata temple, revered by security force personnel as their protector, and offered prayers.