Addressing the nation on the recent IndiaChina standoff, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India gave a befitting reply to the Chinese transgression in Ladakh.
In 66th edition of Mann Ki Baat, the PM said, “The world has seen India’s commitment in protecting its border and sovereignty. In Ladakh, a befitting reply has been given to those coveting our territory. India honours the spirit of friendship but she is also capable of giving an appropriate response to any adversary, without shying away.”
This was PM Modi’s first Mann Ki Baat address after the border clash.
Remembering the bravery of the jawans who attained martyrdom in Ladakh, he said that our brave soldiers proved that they would not let anyone cast an evil eye on the glory and honour of Mother India. The resolution with which our jawans made the supreme sacrifice for the security of the country, should be the aim of our lives and this applied to each and every one of us, he added. He also extended his condolences to the families of the soldiers who were killed in the Galwan Valley incident.
PM Modi said that the inner sense of pride that families felt on the supreme sacrifice of their brave sons and their sentiment for the country, constituted the true power and the might of the country. He stressed that Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) would be a tribute to our martyrs in the truest, and deepest sense.
Meanwhile, the PM also asked people to wear masks and maintain “do gaz ki doori” (distance of two yards) to protect themselves from coronavirus during Unlock 1.0. He said that during this unlock phase, many other things were getting unlocked, which had hitherto, shackled the country for decades. For years, he said, the mining sector was in a state of lockdown. The decision to allow commercial auction altered the scenario completely, he added.
During his address, the PM also paid tributes to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary and said that he led India through a critical time and also highlighted his contributions towards nation building.