Mann ki Baat: India has given befitting reply in Ladakh to those who eyed its territory, says PM Modi

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 28 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday projected India’s strong resolve with regard the military face-off with China in Ladakh along the LAC, saying the country is capable of defending its borders.

“A befitting reply has been given to those who cast an evil eye on Indian territory in Ladakh. Our brave soldiers have shown that they will never allow the honour of mother India to be hurt,” Modi said.

Dispelling despondency in some quarters of the country occasioned by a slew of negative developments in the first half including the outbreak of COVID pandemic, cyclones, earthquakes, and external aggression along LAC, Modi said the year 2020 will prove to be a milestone of this decade positively.

“The country will scale new heights in various fields, peak success in the hitherto unchartered course,” Modi said, and added that he had “great hope” on the dynamism of its 130 crore people.

Without naming China, he said its aggression along the LAC was being given a befitting reply.   

“India knows how to be committed, and conduct friendly relations, but also knows how to see in the eyes of anyone who challenges its sovereignty,” Modi said in his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio broadcast.

Paying tributes to the valour of Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the skirmish with China’s PLA in Ladakh area, Modi said the entire country was beholden to them and their families.

“The world knows India’s capability of defending its interests,” Modi said, adding that umpteen number of aggressors tried to change the course of our country’s destiny in the past, but failed.

The country has inherent strength, renaissance enlightenment, knowledge and wisdom to keep intact its cultural identity and harness them for contributing to the world community.

India was taking measures to become stronger and self-reliant in all fields, and pitched for “Aatm Nirbhar” campaign urging for “vocal for local”.

Urging people for production and consumption of local goods, he said this would be a contribution to country’s march to self-respect and emergence as a greater power-house.

He left no one in doubt that his call for self-reliance, including indigenous production of Defence hardware, was predicated on exigencies of country security and sovereignty.

“World will witness peace and tranquillity if India is strong,” Modi said,

He noted that India lagged in defence productions in comparison to countries who were an equal at the time of Independence. This, despite it having Ordinance Factories. This anomaly is being rectified.

He urged caution and guards-up on safeguards against Corona even when the country was getting of the lockdown

He said the government has opened the Space and the Mining Sectors to private players which will help to “unlock” country’s potential- post lockdown.

Also, the agriculture sector was being reformed.

He batted for protection of environment and conservation of water.

He paid homage to former Prime Minister late PV Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary.

Hailing him as an erudite, linguist, and a leader of great administrative skill who led the country in trying times, Modi observed that the former premier took part in Independence struggle since his early days.

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