Rajnath slams Pakistan at rally
JHARIA: India never provoked any nation, but, if incited, it would not spare anyone, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday.
Addressing a poll meeting in Jharkhand’s Jharia, he asserted that the measures taken by the Narendra Modi-led government to curb terrorism have strengthened India’s reputation as one of the strongest nations in the world.
“Our intention is clear. Our policy is clear...we will never provoke any country, but, if provoked, will not spare anyone,” the Union minister said in Hindi.
Recounting past efforts to maintain “friendly relations” with Pakistan, he said former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the Bharatiya Janata Partty (BJP) had visited the neighbouring country to extend a “hand of friendship”, and, in return, received Kargil invasion.
“Our jawans, however, gave an appropriate response, decimating them,” Singh said.
As Pakistan couldn’t fight a conventional war, it resorted to sending terrorists to attack Indian forces, the Union defence minister said.
“The Narendra Modi government decided to strike and destroy terror camps inside Pakistan. India is no longer a weak nation. I have been to several countries in the past as well as in the recent times.
“Our country’s impression has changed outside. Our fight against terrorism has cemented India’s reputation as one of the strongest nations in the world,” he insisted.
Jharia is among the fifteen seats going to polls on December 16, during the fourth of the fivephase assembly elections. The BJP has fielded Ragini Singh, the wife of sitting MLA Sanjeev Singh, from the seat.
Separately, the BJP’s national spokesperson, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, said on Sunday people vote for “good governance and political stability”, listing the achievements of the incumbent Raghubar Das government.