PM: India’s enemies have seen ‘fire and fury’ of its jawans
Modi says era of expansionism over; surprise visit boosts troops’ morale
LEH/NEW DELHI: In a clear message to China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the era of expansionism is over and that India’s enemies have seen the “fire and fury” of its armed forces as he made a surprise visit to Ladakh, signalling India’s firmness in dealing with the border row with the neighbouring country.
In an address to troops, Modi paid glowing tributes to the 20 Indian soldiers killed in the Galwan Valley clashes, and said tales of the bravery and valour of the armed forces are echoing in every part of the country. “Bharat Mata’s enemies have seen your fire and fury,” Modi said in an apparent reference to the military clashes between the Indian and Chinese troops, and asserted that bravery is a prerequisite for peace and that the weak can never accomplish it. Modi’s visit to Ladakh is seen as a strong message against China’s aggressive posturing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region.
The PM said the world has taken note of India’s strength due to the “exemplary bravery” of the armed forces in the recent weeks, adding history is proof that “expansionists” have either lost or perished. He further said, ”Your courage is higher than the heights where you are serving today. When the safety of the country is in your hands, then there is a belief.
Not only me, but the entire nation believes in you. We all are proud of you.”
Modi later interacted with personnel from the Army, Indian Air Force and the ITBP in Nimu. The PM also visited a military hospital in Leh where he interacted with soldiers injured in the clashes.
Oppose attempts to change LAC: Extending its support to India amid the border standoff, Japanese ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki said on Friday that the country opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Suzuki’s statement came after he spoke with India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla.
NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the Prime Minister’s surprise visit to Ladakh at a time of heightened tensions between Indian and Chinese has “definitely boosted” the morale of the soldiers.
Taking to Twitter, Rajnath Singh said, “Going to Ladakh, meeting soldiers and encouraging them has definitely boosted the morale of the army,” the Defence Minister said as he thanked the Prime Minister for his visit. “The borders of the country have always been secure under the Indian Army,” Rajnath Singh wrote on Twitter.
Official sources said on Thursday that Rajnath Singh’s planned visit to Ladakh on Friday has been rescheduled and the reason was not known. The sources said Singh will “soon” undertake the visit to Ladakh to take stock of India’s military preparedness in the region where Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a seven-week bitter border standoff.
Lauding Modi’s visit, Shah tweeted, “Leading from the front. Prime Minister Shri @NarendraModi Ji with our brave and courageous personnel of Army, Air Force & ITBP at a forward location in Ladakh.” “This visit of honourable PM will surely boost the morale of our valorous soldiers,” he said along with multiple pictures of Modi with the soldiers.
Sources had said Rajnath’s planned visit to Ladakh has been rescheduled and the reason was not known
Someone is lying: Rahul on face-off However, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a veiled swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday over Chinese intrusions at the LAC, saying while Ladakhis claim that China has taken their land, the PM says otherwise and someone is “lying”. “Ladakhis say: China took our land. PM says: Nobody took our land. Obviously, someone is lying,” he wrote on a Twitter.