No one questioned surgical strike: Modi tells diaspora

Says it proved that India can show might and was prepared to take the ‘hardest of steps’ for the sake of nation’s security

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought up cross-border terrorism and the surgical strikes carried out by India across the LoC last year as he addressed Indian Americans on Sunday, a day before his first meeting with US president Donald Trump. The US President has made counter-terrorism a key plank of his administration.

The surgical strikes showed the world that India can exercise “self control” but, when needed, it can also show its might, Modi said to a loud cheer from the audience during a 45-minute speech .

India is bound by the laws of global order, the Prime Minister said but added that for the sake of its “sovereignty, security, common good, peace and progress, it was prepared to undertake the hardest of steps” and measures. “We have always done that and no one in the world can stop us,” Modi said while interacting with the Indian diaspora in Virginia.

The Prime Minister did not refer to Pakistan or any other country by name, but referred to the surgical strikes, carried out by Indian armed forces against terrorist camps inside Pakistani territory in September, 2016.

No one in the world criticised or questioned India, Modi said, except “those at the receiving end of it”, inviting a loud reaction from the audience.

Puneet Ahluwalia, a Republican operative who was in the audience, said he found Modi’s remarks on the surgical strikes a very clear enunciation of India’s position on the issues.

“As any thriving democracy (India) has the right to protect their sovereignty and its people,” he said.

Terming corruption the reason because of which “the previous governments were changed in India”, Prime Minsiter Modi said “There has been not a single stain on our government for the past three years. And governance is being modified so that honesty becomes an in-build process...”