Rajnath Singh Urges Border Troops to Build Local Trust

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited military personnel in West Bengal and Sikkim on November 7 and 8 to celebrate Diwali and review operational readiness. During interactions at Bagdogra Airfield and Sukna in Siliguri, Singh emphasized that building strong relations with local residents in sensitive border areas is critical to weakening enemy plots. He noted that the conduct and discipline of soldiers maintain public trust and shape the image of the armed forces.

Addressing personnel at the Air Force Station in Bagdogra, Singh called for high operational readiness to counter asymmetric warfare, drone swarms, and proxy wars. He highlighted the need for cyber resilience and domain awareness, noting that the military is becoming more technology-driven through domestic defense equipment developed under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Singh stated that while technology is advancing, discipline and high morale remain the military's greatest strengths.

As part of his itinerary, Singh visited the Sherathang War Memorial in Sikkim to pay tribute to fallen soldiers and met personnel guarding the frontier at Nathu La. During these visits, he also discussed the Union Cabinet's recent approval of a two-year Second Tour of Duty for Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme, which allows eligible personnel to extend their service and potentially enroll as regular soldiers.