Nation will give fierce reply if provoked: PM
longewala (rajasthan) — Delivering an unambiguous message to India’s enemies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asserted that it will give a “prachand jawab” (fierce reply) if provoked, as he flew to Longewala Post to celebrate Diwali with soldiers, a custom he has been observing since assuming office in 2014.
Addressing soldiers at the forward post, which has become a part of military legend after troops here successfully thwarted numerically higher Pakistani forces in the 1971 war, Modi took a swipe at China without naming it, saying the world is troubled by “expansionist forces” and expansionism shows a “distorted mindset” that belongs to the 18th century.
India has become a forceful voice against forces of expansionism, he said and also took aim at Pakistan, adding that Indian soldiers have hit “sponsors of terrorism” in their home, a reference to air and surgical strikes against terror camps in the neighbouring country. “No force in the world can prevent our brave soldiers from defending our
borders… The world today knows that we will not compromise with our interests even one bit at any cost,” he said amid a standoff with China at Ladakh border.
He said India today believes in the policy of understanding others and making them understand but if it is tested, then it will give a fierce reply. The country has the capability and political will to give a befitting response to those who challenge it, he added.
The prime minister also under
lined the importance of having strong capability, saying despite advanced international cooperation and equations, vigilance is the path to security, alertness leads to happiness and peace is the prize of having strength.
“History of the world tells us that only those nations have remained safe and advanced who had the ability to take on invaders,” he said, adding that 1.3 billion Indians stand with the country’s soldiers and bow to their bravely. —
Diwali is complete only after I am among soldiers... I cannot stay away from my own on this festival. The more time I spend with the soldiers, the stronger my resolve to serve and protect the country gets Narendra modi, Prime Minister