Contingents of three border guarding forces of the country were not included in the Republic Day parade on Rajpath this year owing to "time constraint", the government told Parliament today.
The three contingents belonged to Sino-India border guarding force ITBP, Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan frontier force SSB, and the largest among them - the Border Security Force, that secures fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
"Ministry of Defence advised Ministry of Home Affairs that the CAPFs marching contingent, one Delhi Police marching contingent and one BSF camel contingent (total 5) with bands would participate in the Republic Day Parade 2017 and accordingly Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force and National Security Guard marching contingent were included.
"The MoD had also conveyed that any request for increase in the number of marching contingents would not be agreed because of time constraint," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told Rajya Sabha in a written reply on the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
He was asked the reason for this decision and whether it would have a "demoralising effect on the brave jawans of these forces?".
PTI had first reported in January this year that the three border guarding forces will be missing in action as they will not be walking the Rajpath on Republic Day for the January 26 parade that showcases the defence and security prowess of the country.
For the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the absence this year was for the second straight year as their contingents were not included during the January 26 event in 2016, making it the first time that these two CAPFs did not participate in the Republic Day parade.
The BSF marching contingent had found a place in the parade of 2016.
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