Bhuj (Gujarat), Nov 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the victory of the BJP-led NDA in the Bihar polls was a mandate against infiltrators in the country because citizens will never favour those parties that support such illegal immigrants.

Shah said some political parties are opposing the ongoing SIR (special intensive revision) of the Election Commission as they want to make sure that names of infiltrators remain on the electoral rolls. He described the SIR as “purification” of voters’ list.

He was addressing the BSF Diamond Jubilee (61st Raising Day) celebrations in Bhuj, in Gujarat’s Kutch district.

“Today, the BSF (Border Security Force) is engaged in preventing infiltration at all borders of the country. Stopping infiltration is not only essential for national security but also to protect the democratic system of the country from being polluted,” he said.

However, some political parties are trying to weaken the government’s anti-infiltration campaign, he said.

The Opposition, including the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, where assembly elections will be held next year, has objected to the SIR, claiming that it threatens to disenfranchise lakhs of voters.

“They are opposing the ongoing SIR and the voter list purification process being carried out by the Election Commission. I want to make it clear that we will deport every single infiltrator from this country. This is our resolve,” asserted Shah.

“Who will be the chief minister of any state in the country, or who will be the prime minister, is a decision that can only be made by the citizens of India. Infiltrators do not have the right to pollute our democratic system and influence our democratic decisions,” said the Home minister.

Stressing that SIR is a process to secure and purify India’s democracy, he said every citizen should fully support it.

“I also want to warn those political parties which are engaged in protecting these infiltrators. The Bihar election was the mandate of the people of the country. And that mandate is against the presence of infiltrators in our country,” said Shah.

In the recently concluded Bihar assembly elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) decimated the Mahagathbandhan, an alliance of Congress, RJD and other parties, winning over 200 seats in the 243-member House.

“Those parties working to secure infiltrators’ place in the voter list should know that the people of the country will never support such intentions,” said Shah.

During BSF’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Shah praised its role in Naxal-affected areas.

He said thanks to the joint efforts of all security forces, India will be free from the Naxal menace very soon.

“We are determined to free the country from the Naxal problem forever by March 31, 2026, and pave the way for the development of our tribal brothers and sisters. The entire corridor from Tirupati to Pashupati will be safe and will progress like the rest of India. In Chhattisgarh, the BSF has forced 127 Maoists to surrender, arrested 73, and neutralised 22,” said Shah.

He said not just Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the entire nation salutes the bravery and exemplary courage of BSF jawans. The Home minister told the audience that so far, 2,013 brave soldiers of the BSF have made the supreme sacrifice while securing the country’s borders.

On the occasion, Shah said the BSF now has 193 battalions and a strength of over 2.76 lakh jawans. The force is currently guards and monitors over 2,289 km of the border with Pakistan and over 4,095 km of the border with Bangladesh, he said.

Shah said the coming year will be dedicated to the welfare of the force’s personnel and their families.

“The BSF and the Home Department will take various initiatives for the welfare of the personnel and their families. Additionally, the coming year will be dedicated to modernising the force, with a target of transforming it into the world’s most modern and most capable border security force within five years,” he said.

“In the coming days, we are also introducing a new concept called e-border security. We have completed the trial phase. I am happy to announce that the BSF has played a major role in implementing the e-border security concept, and the initiative was also taken by it,” he said.

Shah also praised BSF’s role during Operation Sindoor, launched by India’s armed forces to avenge the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

“During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan took our attack on terrorists as an attack on them, and when the Pakistani army came into action, our BSF soldiers left no stone unturned in giving them a befitting reply,” said Shah.

“Due to the efforts of the BSF and the Army, Pakistan announced a unilateral truce, and because of this, it became clear to the entire world that India’s border should not be violated. Otherwise, they will have to face the consequences,” he added.

Kolkata, Nov 21: A strong earthquake struck West Bengal’s capital city, Kolkata, on Friday, triggering panic among residents who rushed out to the streets from their resting places, homes and workspaces. However, no immediate damage or casualties have been reported, Hindustan Time reported.

The intensity and depth of the earthquake are yet to be officially confirmed.

According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the epicentre of the quake was located in Bangladesh.

Residents quickly took to social media platforms to share their reactions.

“Small quake but big panic,” wrote Supratim Maitra on X, adding that even a brief jolt caused alarm across neighbourhoods.

Vinay Kumar Dokania, another user, said the tremors were unusually long: “That #earthquake lasted over 30 seconds and was very powerful.”

New Delhi, Nov 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday departed for Johannesburg, South Africa, to attend the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit, terming it a “particularly special” occasion as it marks the first time the summit is being held on African soil. In his departure statement, he highlighted India’s continued commitment to the Global South and its belief in collective solutions to global challenges.

“I am visiting the Republic of South Africa from 21–23 November 2025, at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, to attend the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit being held in Johannesburg under South Africa’s Presidency. This will be a particularly special Summit given that it would be the first G20 Summit being held in Africa. During India’s Presidency of the G20 in 2023, the African Union had become a member of the G20.

The Summit will be an opportunity to discuss key global issues. The theme of this year’s G20 has been ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’, by which South Africa has carried forward the outcomes from the previous Summits held in New Delhi, India and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I will present India’s perspective at the Summit in line with our vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘One Earth, One Family and One Future.’ I look forward to my interactions with leaders of the partner countries, and participation in the 6th IBSA Summit scheduled on the sidelines of the Summit. During the visit, I also look forward to my interaction with the Indian diaspora in South Africa, which is one of the largest outside India.”

The Johannesburg Summit comes at a crucial time for the developing world. It is the fourth consecutive G20 hosted by a developing nation: Indonesia, India, Brazil and now South Africa. Next year, the baton will pass to the United States, making this summit a critical moment for securing deliverables for the Global South, particularly Africa.

With the U.S. President not attending the meeting, a further sign of Washington’s limited engagement, expectations from India and other countries are high. PM Modi’s presence contrasts sharply with the U.S. absence, reinforcing India’s image as a reliable voice for the developing world. International reports note that the United States will be represented only by the deputy chief of mission from its embassy in South Africa.

Analysts observe that India’s presidency in 2023 still shapes the current agenda. South Africa has drawn heavily from New Delhi’s outcomes, adopting the theme “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability,” an extension of India’s core idea of “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”

New Delhi is increasingly positioned not just as a participant, but as a mediator and bridge-builder between developed economies and emerging nations. As the world faces geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, India’s emphasis on cooperation over confrontation continues to resonate. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged all member nations to uphold multilateralism and international law as essential pillars to solving global crises. His remarks have gained significance amid the absence of senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who have opted not to attend key G20 meetings.

As PM Modi arrives in Johannesburg, India is seen as carrying forward the aspirations of the Global South. Its voice, shaped by “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” remains central to the G20’s search for common purpose.