Friendly ties with Bangladesh not at cost of troopers' lives: Rajnath

Calling the BSF's non-lethal strategy a "myth", Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said friendly relationship with Bangladesh cannot be at the cost of lives of Indian troopers.

"There is nothing like a non-lethal strategy. What is paramount that our borders need to be protected? I cannot allow that the jawans are attacked and they cannot fire in self-defence," said Rajnath Singh, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal.

"Bangladesh is a neighbouring country and we have friendly relations with it. We want the relations to be friendly in future but it cannot be at the cost of lives of our jawans," he said during his visit to a floating border outpost of the BSF in North 24 Parganas district.

The BSF, under the previous United Progressive Alliance government, had adopted the strict use of non-lethal weapons to reduce killings across the India-Bangladesh border.

Rajnath Singh, however, clarified he was not doubting the intentions of the Bangladesh government.

"I do not intend to doubt the intentions of Bangladeshi government but the sanctity of border needs to be maintained," he said.

According to the BSF, in the last three years, at least three troopers have been killed and 500 others sustained injuries in attacks by smugglers across the border in the state.

Earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh asserted that his visit was an "official" one, after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioned the motive behind the trip.

"Is it an official visit or a political visit?" Banerjee had asked, claiming that there was no prior discussion or consultation with her government about Rajnath Singh's trip.

Rajnath Singh said: "No, it's not a political visit. I feel there should not be any confusion regarding this. The (home) ministry has certain defined works to carry out and I am here to do that."

"Mamata Banerjee is an old friend and I respect her a lot. We share a cordial relation and I feel there should not be any misconception regarding this," he said.

Rajnath Singh during the day visited Angrail border outpost in the district and also inspected a stretch of riverine border on the Icchamati river.