In a strong warning to those disrupting border peace, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said the country will not hesitate in retaliating if someone fires first and asserted the government is ready to talk to Pakistan over PoK, and not Kashmir.
“India always wants good friendly relations with its neighbours and continues with its policy of not disturbing anyone. But if someone fires at us first, we will not count the retaliatory bullets. ‘Chhedenge nahi, par chhodenge bhi nahi’ (will not disturb anyone, but if disturbed, then won't spare anyone)," Singh said. He was addressing an inaugural programme of the first YN Singh Memorial Foundation Lecture Series on ‘National Security, Challenges and Strategy’ here last night.
Late YN Singh had served in co-operative department of Madhya Pradesh government. He was remembered for enhancing agriculture production through fertiliser distribution strategies.
On Pakistan raising the issue of Kashmir, Rajnath said, “During my meeting with the Pakistan Rangers and its delegation, I have cleared to them, Kashmir was, is and will remain India's integral part and if you wish to talk, then talk about Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) only.”
“I have also tried to convince the Pakistan Rangers why should they fire at the uniform (soldiers)… First you fire, then we retaliate.
Why shouldn’t both of us fire together at terrorism to end the menace," he said.
The Home Minister said it was a challenge to protect the country's over 23,000-km-long border, but assured it was well-protected. He also exuded confidence that India would become the world's largest economy in next 10-15 years. “The world over it was believed that down the line India will emerge as a major economy along with US and China. However, I am confident that because of India's core strength, it will become the world's largest economy in next 10-15 years. But, some anti-national forces don't want to see India in that position," he said.
Singh said India believes in co-existence and it is the only country in the world where Islam's all 72 'firke' (sects) exist. In no other country, even in Islamic nations, all these 72 firkes were found. The same thing also applies for Christianity and Buddhism, he said.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomatic skills, Rajnath said it was because of his leadership quality that even a country like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had stood with India on the issue of fighting against terrorism. "It was unthinkable earlier," he said. On the steps taken by the government to enhance vigil on borders, he said in the last one year, the smuggling of cows to Bangladesh had come down to 2.5-3 lakh from the earlier figure of 22 lakh. "This figure is not just provided by the BSF but also by NGOs working on the issue," he said.
Referring to north-east region, he said 70 terrorist organisations were active there and dealing with them was a challenge, but added that change was visible there also while citing the recent agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), to prove his point.
On the issue of Naxalism, he said 26 districts in the country were affected with the menace, and that the respective state governments were dealing with the problem in an effective manner with the active support from the Centre, both in terms of deploying central forces and required funds. Earlier, addressing the function, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh termed "Naxalism as a bigger threat than terrorism." “It (Naxalism) is persisting in the country because of an international conspiracy to destabilise India's economy,” he said.
The Chhattisgarh CM also highlighted various steps taken by his government, including setting of educational hubs in hardcore Naxal areas, to deal with the problem, which had helped in checking the menace to a great extent, especially in the state's Sarguja district.
Rajnath defers visit to border areas
Rajnath Singh, who was scheduled to visit forward areas along the borders with Pakistan and China, has postponed the tour citing a key BJP meeting on Bihar. Singh, who was planning to visit Samba along Indo-Pak border and Chumar in eastern Ladakh for three days beginning Tuesday, postponed the visit and may tour both the areas later this month.
Parrikar, Rajnath meet over Ladakh stand-off
Amidst the stand-off between Indian and Chinese forces in Ladakh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh. During the meeting, Parrikar and Singh are believed to have discussed about the stand-off between Indian and Chinese forces in Ladakh, sources said.
Naxalism bigger threat than terrorism: Raman
Chhattisgarh CM Dr Raman Singh termed "Naxalism as a bigger threat than terrorism." “It (Naxalism) is persisting in the country because of an international conspiracy to destabilise India's economy,” he said. The CM highlighted various steps taken by his government to deal with the problem.
BSF man killed in Pak shelling along LoC
Jammu: Barely 24 hours after Pakistan agreed with India that there were will be no mortar shelling on each other, troops from the other side fired mortar bombs along the LoC in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir in a fresh ceasefire violation killing a BSF Assistant Sub Inspector.
“India always wants good friendly relations with its neighbours and continues with its policy of not disturbing anyone. But if someone fires at us first, we will not count the retaliatory bullets. ‘Chhedenge nahi, par chhodenge bhi nahi’ (will not disturb anyone, but if disturbed, then won't spare anyone)," Singh said. He was addressing an inaugural programme of the first YN Singh Memorial Foundation Lecture Series on ‘National Security, Challenges and Strategy’ here last night.
Late YN Singh had served in co-operative department of Madhya Pradesh government. He was remembered for enhancing agriculture production through fertiliser distribution strategies.
On Pakistan raising the issue of Kashmir, Rajnath said, “During my meeting with the Pakistan Rangers and its delegation, I have cleared to them, Kashmir was, is and will remain India's integral part and if you wish to talk, then talk about Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) only.”
“I have also tried to convince the Pakistan Rangers why should they fire at the uniform (soldiers)… First you fire, then we retaliate.
Why shouldn’t both of us fire together at terrorism to end the menace," he said.
The Home Minister said it was a challenge to protect the country's over 23,000-km-long border, but assured it was well-protected. He also exuded confidence that India would become the world's largest economy in next 10-15 years. “The world over it was believed that down the line India will emerge as a major economy along with US and China. However, I am confident that because of India's core strength, it will become the world's largest economy in next 10-15 years. But, some anti-national forces don't want to see India in that position," he said.
Singh said India believes in co-existence and it is the only country in the world where Islam's all 72 'firke' (sects) exist. In no other country, even in Islamic nations, all these 72 firkes were found. The same thing also applies for Christianity and Buddhism, he said.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomatic skills, Rajnath said it was because of his leadership quality that even a country like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had stood with India on the issue of fighting against terrorism. "It was unthinkable earlier," he said. On the steps taken by the government to enhance vigil on borders, he said in the last one year, the smuggling of cows to Bangladesh had come down to 2.5-3 lakh from the earlier figure of 22 lakh. "This figure is not just provided by the BSF but also by NGOs working on the issue," he said.
Referring to north-east region, he said 70 terrorist organisations were active there and dealing with them was a challenge, but added that change was visible there also while citing the recent agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), to prove his point.
On the issue of Naxalism, he said 26 districts in the country were affected with the menace, and that the respective state governments were dealing with the problem in an effective manner with the active support from the Centre, both in terms of deploying central forces and required funds. Earlier, addressing the function, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh termed "Naxalism as a bigger threat than terrorism." “It (Naxalism) is persisting in the country because of an international conspiracy to destabilise India's economy,” he said.
The Chhattisgarh CM also highlighted various steps taken by his government, including setting of educational hubs in hardcore Naxal areas, to deal with the problem, which had helped in checking the menace to a great extent, especially in the state's Sarguja district.
Rajnath defers visit to border areas
Rajnath Singh, who was scheduled to visit forward areas along the borders with Pakistan and China, has postponed the tour citing a key BJP meeting on Bihar. Singh, who was planning to visit Samba along Indo-Pak border and Chumar in eastern Ladakh for three days beginning Tuesday, postponed the visit and may tour both the areas later this month.
Parrikar, Rajnath meet over Ladakh stand-off
Amidst the stand-off between Indian and Chinese forces in Ladakh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh. During the meeting, Parrikar and Singh are believed to have discussed about the stand-off between Indian and Chinese forces in Ladakh, sources said.
Naxalism bigger threat than terrorism: Raman
Chhattisgarh CM Dr Raman Singh termed "Naxalism as a bigger threat than terrorism." “It (Naxalism) is persisting in the country because of an international conspiracy to destabilise India's economy,” he said. The CM highlighted various steps taken by his government to deal with the problem.
BSF man killed in Pak shelling along LoC
Jammu: Barely 24 hours after Pakistan agreed with India that there were will be no mortar shelling on each other, troops from the other side fired mortar bombs along the LoC in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir in a fresh ceasefire violation killing a BSF Assistant Sub Inspector.
