--- title: "Amit Shah: India’s safety tied to secure borders" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/shah-border-security-siliguri-2026-lkkka publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: Politics published: 2026-08-21T09:02:25.672Z modified: 2026-08-21T10:30:04.830Z language: en-IN --- # Amit Shah: India’s safety tied to secure borders Union Home Minister Amit Shah said India won't be safe until its frontiers are secured, speaking at a Siliguri event. He claimed land for border fencing in West Bengal was not provided by previous administrations and cited a 2014 request for 1,129 acres that was only fulfilled after Suvendu Adhikari ## Key takeaways - Shah argues that national safety is linked to border security and fencing. - He claims West Bengal did not provide 1,129 acres of land for border fencing since 2014, with land received after the Adhikari government formed. - The event included groundwork for multiple SSB projects at Siliguri and emphasized the SSB’s non-political nature. - Amit Shah lauded Suvendu Adhikari for political milestones and highlighted a late full rendition of Vande Mataram tied to Independence Day celebrations. - The speech ties border security to broader national symbolism and governance. ## What Happened Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a function at the frontier headquarters of the SSB in Siliguri on August 21, 2026. He stated that neither West Bengal nor the country would be safe until its borders are secured. He criticized past state leadership for not providing land needed to set up border fencing along the India-Bangladesh frontier and noted that a request for 1,129 acres of land had been made since 2014. He added that the land parcel was received only after the Adhikari government formed in the state. Shah also highlighted that the SSB is not a political organization and suggested that earlier chief ministers’ absence from border force events sent the wrong signals. During the event, he congratulated Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for breaking a glass ceiling. Shah referred to the national song Vande Mataram and said the complete version had not been sung in India since independence until this year, marking the 150th anniversary of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s creation, with a rendition at the Red Fort on Independence Day. The remarks came as groundwork and foundation-stone ceremonies for various SSB projects were conducted at the frontier headquarters in Siliguri. ## Why It Matters The home minister’s comments frame border security as a core national priority and tie the effectiveness of border fencing to national safety. By alleging a lack of cooperation from a past state administration and noting a delayed land allocation, the speech positions border management as a matter of governance and political accountability. The reference to Vande Mataram’s fuller rendition links security and national identity to recent commemorations, signaling a narrative that security and symbolic acts are intertwined with national unity. ## Background The event took place in Siliguri, at the SSB frontier headquarters, during a program involving groundbreaking and foundation-stone laying for multiple SSB projects. Shah’s remarks followed his critique of earlier state leadership in West Bengal’s handling of land needed for border fencing along the India-Bangladesh border and his assertion that land was eventually obtained after a new state government took office. ## Key Facts - The venue was the SSB frontier headquarters in Siliguri, where Shah spoke on August 21, 2026. - Shah claimed that the country would not be safe until borders are secured. - He said the state government did not provide 1,129 acres of land requested for border fencing since 2014. - The land parcel was reportedly received after the Suvendu Adhikari-led government came to power. - He asserted that the SSB is not a political organization, and criticized earlier state leaders for not attending border-force celebrations. - Shah congratulated Suvendu Adhikari for breaking a glass ceiling in the context of state politics. - He noted that the complete version of Vande Mataram had not been sung in India until this year, during Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, linking security to national symbols. - Groundbreaking and foundation-stone laying ceremonies for various SSB projects were held at the frontier headquarters in Siliguri. ## What Happens Next The event described ongoing groundwork and foundation ceremonies for SSB projects at the Siliguri frontier, indicating continued expansion or enhancement of border-related infrastructure under the SSB. --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/shah-border-security-siliguri-2026-lkkka Reported from: Multiple Sources