LAC faceoff: India no longer weak, will not compromise on national pride: Rajnath
New Delhi, Jun 14 (PTI) Amid a standoff with China on the Ladakh border, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that India will never compromise on its “national pride”, asserting that its security capability has risen and it is no longer a “weak” country.
Speaking at a virtual ‘Jan Samvad’ rally for Jammu and Kashmir, Singh also assured the opposition that the central government will not keep Parliament or anyone in the dark about developments on the border and will share details at an appropriate time.
“I want to assure that we will not compromise with national pride under any circumstance. India has become strong in its national security. India is no longer a weak India. Our strength has risen. But this strength is not meant to frighten anyone. If we are increasing our strength we are doing so to secure our country,” Singh said.
The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in an over five-week standoff in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. A sizeable number of Chinese Army personnel even transgressed into the Indian side of the de-facto border in several areas including Pangong Tso.
The Indian Army has been fiercely objecting to the transgressions, and demanded their immediate withdrawal for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the area. Both sides held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row.
The senior BJP leader said China has expressed wish to resolve the dispute with India through talks, and the Indian government also has a similar view.
“This is also our effort to defuse the tussle between India and China through military and diplomatic level talks,” he said, stating that the two countries are engaged in military level dialogue.
Referring to the row, he noted that a dispute has arisen between India and China and some people have asking “what has been happening on India-China border, in Ladakh”.
From time to time, people have been informed about the ongoing developments, he said, adding that his government appreciates the role of opposition in democracy and respects it.
The Congress, especially Rahul Gandhi, has been raising questions about the border dispute and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be transparent about it.
Gandhi had recently alleged that China has taken away India’s territory in Ladakh and questioned the prime minister’s silence on the issue, saying he has vanished.
Singh asserted that India is secure in its defence and is augmenting its strength, and noted that Rafale fighter aircraft will arrive in July, boosting its air firepower.
He said that the Modi government will change the face of Jammu and Kashmir with its development works so much that people from Pakistan-administered-Kashmir will demand to be part of India.
“Our government has been successful in sending the message that Jammu and Kashmir’s development is its priority. Our effort in the next five years will be to change its face so much that people of PaK will feel envious. They will wish that if they were part of India, then their fate too would have changed,” he said.
“Let’s wait for what happens in future. There will be demand from PaK to be freed of Pakistan’s occupation and to live with India. When this happens, then Parliament’s resolution will also be fulfilled,” the minister said.
While piloting in Parliament a resolution for annulling Article 370 and a bill to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into union territories last year, Home Minister Amit Shah had reiterated that PaK and Aksai Chin, which is under China’s occupation, are integral part of India.
Parliament has also earlier passed resolution that Pak is part of India.
With Indian channels now including Muzaffarabad and Gilgit, which are under Pakistan’s occupation, in their weather report, this has changed “temperature” in the neighbouring country which, Singh said, is now creating more mischief, a reference to terrorism in the Valley.
Indian security forces have been giving befitting reply, he asserted.
The defence minister described Article 370, which had given the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir special status, as a “stain” which has been removed due to the courage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier, Pakistan’s and terrorist organisation ISIS’ flags would be seen in protests in Kashmir, now Indian tricolour is visible there, he said.
