Keypoints:
- Delivering an unambiguous message to India’s neighbors, Modi took a swipe at China without naming it.
- PM Modi says that the world is troubled by expansionist forces.
Taking a swipe at China without naming it, Modi said that the world is troubled by “expansionist forces” and “expansionism” shows a distorted mindset that belongs to the 18th century.
On Saturday, PM Modi delivered an unambiguous message to India’s neighbors and asserted that the country would give a “prachand jawaab” (fierce reply) if provoked.
On the occasion of Diwali, while addressing the soldiers at Longewala Post in Rajasthan, Modi’s said, “The world today knows that we will not compromise our interests at any cost”.
In a dig at Pakistan, Modi said that the Indian soldiers had entered the homes of the “sponsors of terror” and hit them, a reference to the surgical strikes against the terror camps across the LoC.
Modi, while healing the valour of India troops, he said, “If anyone casts an evil eye on us, our soldiers give them a fitting reply. This establishes the credibility of the Indian army in the world. Today the army is engaged in military exercises with other big countries. We have strategic partnerships to fight against terrorism. Indian armed forces have showed that they can strike at terrorist havens anywhere, anytime,”
Modi recalled the battle of Longewala, which has become a part of military lore after the Indian troops here successfully thwarted numerically superior Pakistani forces in the 1971 War.
Modi said: “No force in the world can prevent our soldiers from protecting our borders. India has shown it has strength and political will to give a befitting reply to those challenging it.”
“India believes in policy of understanding others and making them understand but if an attempt to test it is made, then the country will give a fierce reply,” he asserted.
His unambiguous message came amid continuing standoff with China at Ladakh border.No force in the world can prevent our soldiers from protecting our borders, he said, adding that India has shown that it has strength and the political will to give a befitting reply to those challenging it.
He also urged troops to innovate, practise yoga and learn an Indian language they don’t know from colleagues.
