Can’t rule out big terror incident, says Rajnath

‘We are completely committed to coastal and maritime security’

KOLLAM: A big incident carried out by terrorists from a neighbouring country on India's coastline cannot be ruled out but the government is committed to coastal and maritime security, Defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.

Speaking at the 66th birthday celebrations of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi in Kollam at Kerala, Singh said India will not

let anyone who bothered them “rest in peace” while referring to the air-force strike in Balakot in response to the Pulwama attack.

“We cannot rule out that our neighbouring country's terrorist can carry out a big incident on our coastline which extends from Kutch to Kerala. As a Defence minister I would

like to assure that our country's maritime security is absolutely strong and solidified.

“We are completely committed to coastal and maritime security,” he said.

Singh said that when he was Home minister, the Pulwama incident had taken place and no one in the country will be able Defense Minister Rajnath Singh attends a felicitation programme of martyrs’ family on the occasion of 66th birth anniversary of Mata Amritanandamayi at Amritapuri Ashram in Kollam district of Kerala on Friday

to forget the sacrifice of the soldiers who died in the incident.

“You know that after some days of Pulwama incident, our air force conducted airstrike at Balakot in Pakistan. We do not bother anyone, but if anyone

bothers us, we will not let them rest in peace.

“The country that does not remember the sacrifice of its soldiers, it is not respected anywhere in the world,” he said.

He also said asked not to forget that the soldiers who sacrifice their lives for the country also have their parents.

“We should stand with them and honour the sacrifice made by the martyr of their family,” he said.