BSF's bike-borne team gets another praise from President Obama

New Delhi, Jan 27: The bike-borne 'Janbaaz' daredevils of the BSF came in for praise the third time by US President Barack Obama who fondly called their stunts "impressive" while he interacted with youngsters on the last day of his visit here. [What happened during Obama's 3-day visit to India]

"It has been great honour to be the first American President to join you for Republic Day. Yesterday's parade... we saw the pride and diversity of this nation including the dare-devils on the Royal Enfields which was very impressive," he said during his meeting with a select audience at the Siri Fort auditorium here.

He joked that the Secret Service squad, which guards him, "does not" let him ride motorcycle, "especially not on my heads."

Obama had twice praised and cheered the Border Security Force team yesterday, first with an excited Thumbs Up when they blazed past the saluting dais at Rajpath and the second time during the Indo-US Business Forum where he made a remark that showed he was quite overwhelmed with their unusual manoeuvres.

"I would, by the way, not drive a motorcycle after watching those incredible acrobats," he had said. The bullet motorcycle riding 'Janbaaz' troops are record holders in various events on their 350cc Enfield bikes and they performed over a dozen acrobatic stunts to lap up the Republic Day parade where Obama was the chief guest.

The US President's wife Michelle too was seen clapping along as this special contingent of the border guarding force passed by. The bike squad was raised in 1990 under the BSF which is tasked to guard Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

PTI