Warned Pak of consequences if Abhinandan not returned: PM

Our Correspondent

Patan (Gujarat), April 21

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today claimed credit for the quick release of Air Force fighter pilot Abhinandan Varthaman by Pakistan.  He sought support for another term in office to launch a final assault on terrorism.

“I have taken a resolve, whatever be the consequences, either I will live on Indian soil or terrorism,” Modi said addressing an election rally at Patan in north Gujarat on the final day of campaigning for 26 seats in Gujarat.

“Do not think that Pakistan released Abhinandan within 48 hours just like that. They did it because a person made of the soil of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s land was sitting in the Prime Minister’s Office,” Modi said.  He said he would not disclose the plan that he had had Pakistan delayed the pilot’s release.

“That I will do when the appropriate time comes,” he said, but he quoted some American intelligence reports that “India had planned a major missile attack” on Pakistan which would have been a “qatal ki raat for that country.”

“The American media reported a senior American official having said that India had kept 12 missiles ready for simultaneous launch and that would have been mayhem for Pakistan,” he said.

Pakistan knew that Modi would not let such things go unanswered like the previous Manmohan Singh government, he said. 

Barmer (Rajasthan): Focusing his two poll addresses in Rajasthan on national security, defence and terrorism, Modi on Sunday announced that fighter plane Rafale would be flying in a few months in the Indian sky as the NDA government had made a direct deal with the France Government after coming to power in 2014.  “We have modernised the defence forces by providing latest cannons.... we will give our jawans whatever they  could not get in the previous Congress governments,” Modi said.