Encourage youth towards adventure: Patil to BSF

New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) Home Minister Shivraj Patil today asked the BSF to devise a scheme to encourage youth towards adventure, saying it adds zeal and meaning to life while inspiring people to achieve greater heights.

Addressing the 14-member BSF Everest Expedition Team after its successful scaling of the Mount Everest on May 20, Mr Patil said challenges and scope exist in all spheres of life -- at sea, mountains and space -- and for the forces there is always another summit waiting after scaling one.

''Because our aim shouldn't rest at Mount Everest, it should aim at the moon, other planets, stars...'' With a special word for team leader Additional DIG S C Negi, the highest ranking official in the world and the oldest Indian to scale Mt Everest, and deputy team leader Inspector Love Raj Dharmshaktu for reaching the highest peak in the world twice (earlier in 1998), Mr Patil said it was not a moment of happiness for just them or their team but for the Force and the nation as well.

BSF Director General A K Mitra, while lauding the first attempt by the Force's Mountaineering Team to scale Everest, said it was an honour that seven out of ten climbers managed to reach the summit.

The expedition had been flagged off by Mr Patil on March 8.

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