Indian soldiers will give a befitting reply “to whosoever” makes an attempt to destroy the atmosphere of peace and progress in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, taking a tough stand against Pakistan.
Modi said during his ‘Mann ki Baat’ monthly radio programme that India “staunchly” believes in peace and is “committed” to taking it forward. “But not at the cost of compromising our self-respect and sovereignty of our nation,” he said.
The tough words from the prime minister comes days after India called off a planned meeting with Pakistan’s foreign minister in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
This was in protest against the brutal killing of Indian soldiers near the Indo-Pak border, making it clear that terror and talk could not go hand-in-hand.
“We have never eyed someone else’s territory maliciously. This in itself is our commitment and dedication towards peace,” the prime minister said.
The government had observed September 29 as the ‘surgical strike day’ to mark the “valour and patriotism” of Indian troops which crossed the LoC and targeted terrorist camps on September 29, 2016, in retaliation to a deadly terror attack at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Yesterday, 125 crore Indians celebrated the ParaakramParva, the festival of Valour. We remembered the surgical strike carried out in 2016 where our soldiers gave a befitting reply to the audacity of a proxy war under the garb of terrorism,” Modi said.
“For decades, our brave soldiers in blue helmets have played a stellar role in ensuring maintenance of world peace,” he said.
Ahead of the ‘Indian Air Force Day’ to be celebrated on October 8, Modi listed the contributions made by IAF personnel and congratulated the “air warriors” and their families.
“Making a humble beginning in 1932 with six pilots and 19 airmen, our air force has emerged as one of the mightiest and bravest of 21st century today. It has bestowed upon us a sense of security,” he said.