Investigating agencies have full-fledged autonomy: Rajnath

Days after the Standing Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) pulled up the Centre for the January 2 Pathankot terror attack, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday heaped praise on the security and intelligence agencies, saying they are dealing with terrorism with alertness and efficiency.

"All our investigating agencies have got full-fledged autonomy. I don't think there is any interference from the government's side in the working. Our security and intelligence agencies are dealing with terrorism with alertness and efficiency," Singh told reporters here.

Earlier, speaking at the 14th investiture ceremony of the Border Security Force (BSF), he said development of any nation is not possible without a sense of security.

"Whenever I felicitate brave soldiers, it gives me a sense of confidence. It gives me a confidence that no force in the world can dare to look at our borders. The development of any nation is not possible without a sense of security. The world's major rating agencies have acknowledged India as world's fastest growing economy," he said.

"The infiltration attempts have reduced by 50 percent. All this has been possible because of your (BSF) courage and valour. It is quite obvious that when we make progress at such a rapid growth, some people will put on hindrances. Some of them might be our neighbours who will try to put brakes on our growth by spreading out terrorism and all," he added.

The Union Home Minister said given such circumstances, the BSF as India's Front Line of Defence has played its role efficiently.