The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) lifted the overall best team rolling trophy winning the final round of All India Inter-Para Military Forces debate competition in Hindi and English, organized by the National Human Rights Commission in collaboration with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in New Delhi today.

          The topic of the debate competition was There Is No Security Without Human Rights. Among the individual honours, the first prize for debate in Hindi went to Constable Amrendra Kumar, Border Security Force (BSF), Delhi Zone and in English to Sub Inspector Irena Pegu, CISF, Delhi Zone.

          The second prize in Hindi went to Rajeshwari Vijay, Head Constable, CRPF, West Zone and in English to Ankit Dubey, Assistant Commandant, CISF, Delhi Zone.

          The third prize in Hindi went to Ashutosh Gaur, Assistant Commandant, CISF, South Zone and in English to V.V.S. Gautam, Assistant Commandant, CISF, South Zone. Consolation prize in Hindi went to Janardan Yadav, Head Constable, BSF, Delhi Zone and in English jointly to Prashant Sharma, Assistant Commandant, NSG, Delhi Zone and Ashish Kumar Dwivedi, Assistant Commandant, BSF, North Zone.

          The winners were decided by a three member panel of jury headed by Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC comprising Mr. Gopal Sharma, former Director General of Police, Jammu & Kashmir and Prof. Anuradha Chenoy, Dean, International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

          Congratulating the winners of the Debate Competition, Mr. Justice Balakrishnan said that security is the key function of the State, which cannot be undermined given the threat from terrorism which has emerged as a serious threat to humanity and the nation.  It poses one of the most serious challenges to the international community.  Naxal violence which has been going on for a long time is again a serious threat to India’s internal security.  The role of the security forces in protecting and promoting the human rights of the people is extremely challenging in the present scenario of growing violence and terrorism.  However, counter terrorism measures should not undermine democratic values.  No democratic society can be permitted to undermine civil liberties.  State terrorism is no answer to combat terrorism.

          The NHRC has been organizing this debate competition in Hindi and English since 1996. The debate is initially conducted at 8 zonal levels to short list debaters and then the semi final and final rounds are conducted. The responsibility to hold debate under the aegis of the NHRC is entrusted to one of the Para Military Forces on rotation basis, and the CRPF shared the responsibility this year.