New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said that at a time when the whole world was already battling the coronavirus pandemic, Indian troops stood up to China’s “unprovoked aggression” in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and forced the People’s Liberation Army to go back.
While lauding the valour of Indian armed forced deployed along LAC in Ladakh, the Defence Minister said: “As you are aware, there is big build-up of Armed Forces at the LAC in Ladakh. In these testing times our forces have shown exemplary courage and remarkable fortitude. They fought the PLA with utmost bravery and forced them to go back.”
Addressing the ‘Valedictory Session’ of FICCI’s Annual Conclave. Do watch.. https://t.co/I1FXbyqKbN
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 14, 2020
He was referring to the recent skirmishes between the Indian and Chinese troops along LAC including the Galwan Valley face-off in June in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives.
“The coming generations of this nation will be proud of what our forces have managed to achieve this year. Whenever there is a situation at the LAC, the most obvious outcome is a comparison between India and China’s military strength,” Rajnath said while addressing the annual convention of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
He further said that there can be debate on the military might of both countries, but when it comes to soft power, “there is no scope of ambiguity”.
“India is far ahead of China when it comes to leading the world with ideas,” Singh said, adding that while commenting in cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. “We have been victims of cross-border terrorism, yet have fought the scourge alone even when there was no one to support us but later, they understood we were right about Pakistan being the fountainhead of terrorism,” he said.
“And now again our brave forces are there in the forefront fighting icy winds to guard our borders and to fulfill their responsibility,” he said while calling upon industry to stand shoulder to shoulder with the forces.
“We have opened doors to the private sector, incentivized domestic production, are creating defence corridors and doing a lot more. We are also willing to engage in meaningful joint ventures and partnerships with other countries,” he said while urging the industry to produce defence goods for India as well as the world.
Rajnath also talked about the ongoing farmers protests against the Centre new agri reforms, saying, “there is no question of taking retrograde steps against our agricultural sector ever.”
“The recent reforms have been undertaken with the best interests of India’s farmers in mind,” he added.
-ARK
