World acknowledging India’s tough stand on terrorism: Droupadi Murmu
Says befitting response given to every 'misadventure' from LoC to LAC
New Delhi: India has emerged as a country that is “connecting” today’s “divided world” in some form or the other amid pressing global challenges and questions over relevance and efficacy of the decades-old international institutions, President Droupadi Murmu said on Tuesday.
In her address to a joint sitting of Parliament on the first day of the budget session, Murmu said the world is acknowledging New Delhi’s “tough stand” on terrorism, and described the current phase of India’s global relations as the “best” one.
Murmu said the government “firmly” believed that lasting peace is possible only when the country is strong politically and strategically, and that is the reason why constant emphasis is being put on the modernisation of the country’s military strength.
In the over an hour-long speech, Murmu touched upon India’s ongoing presidency of the G-20, chairship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as well as its role in the Quad with a focus on working for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
Without making any direct reference to India’s frosty ties with Pakistan and China, she asserted that “befitting response” was given to every “misadventure from LoC (Line of Control) to LAC (Line of Actual Control)”.
The world is looking towards India with “high hopes” and it is among those countries that are reinforcing the trust in the global supply, Murmu said, noting that the country’s identity as a nation was immortal in the past, and will remain so in the future as well.
The President said the goodwill that India has generated benefitted it during the crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine, especially in evacuation of Indian citizens from these countries.
“Today the world is also acknowledging India’s tough stand on terrorism. Due to this, India’s voice against terrorism is being heard seriously on every global platform,” she said.
“In October last year, a special meeting of the UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee was organised for the first time in India. In this too, India made its position clear against terrorism,” Murmu added.
She said the government is also “sincerely presenting” its concerns relating to cyber security before the whole world.
The president’s address reflects the views of the government of the day.
The President also highlighted many challenges facing the world and how New Delhi is playing an important role in connecting a “divided world”.
“Today’s world is witnessing many challenges. The relevance and efficacy of international institutions created decades ago is also being questioned,” she said.
“Under these circumstances, India has emerged as a country that is connecting today’s divided world in some form or the other. India is today among those countries that are reinforcing the trust in the global supply chain. Therefore, today, the world is looking towards India with high hopes,” she said.
Murmu also listed India’s ongoing presidency of influential global grouping G-20, noting that the government does not want to limit it to just one diplomatic programme.
“With the mantra of One Earth, One Family, One Future, India is attempting to find collective solutions to the current global challenges in collaboration with the G-20member countries.
“My government does not want to limit it to just one diplomatic programme. Rather, it is an opportunity to showcase India’s potential and culture through the efforts of the entire country,” she said.
“Therefore, G-20 meetings are being held in dozens of cities across the country throughout the year,” she added.
The President said India has expanded its role keeping its national interests paramount and cited New Delhi’s humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
“This is the best phase of India’s global relations. We have strengthened our cooperation and friendship with various countries of the world. On the one hand, we are chairing the SCO this year, and on the other, being a member of the Quad, we are working for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” she said.
“We have expanded our role keeping our national interests paramount. Whether it was the earthquake in Afghanistan or the crisis in Sri Lanka, we were the first to provide humanitarian aid,” Murmu added.
She said India, which once looked to others for solutions to most of its problems, is today emerging as a provider of solutions for the issues faced by the world.
“The digital network that India has built is a source of inspiration even for developed countries,” she said.
Murmu said India today has a government which is moving forward confidently to play its rightful role on the global stage.
“Wherever in the world there is political instability, those countries are beset with severe crises today. But India is in a much better position than the rest of the world due to the decisions taken by my government in the national interest,” she said.
The President said India’s knowledge, science and spirituality have been guiding the world for centuries and it will continue to guide the world in the same way in the coming centuries.
She said the government has been laying constant emphasis on modernising the military as it firmly believes that lasting peace is possible only when India is politically and strategically strong.
Murmu’s comments during her address to the joint session of Parliament on the first day of Budget session came amid India’s lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh as well as the challenges of Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Without directly mentioning either Pakistan or China, the President, who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, highlighted that “befitting response” was given to every “misadventure from LoC (Line of Control) to LAC (Line of Actual Control)” .
“My decisive government has always kept the country’s interest paramount and shown the willpower to completely transform the policies and strategies when required,” she said.
“From surgical strike to a firm crackdown on terrorism, from a befitting response to every misadventure from LoC to LAC, from abrogation of Article 370 to Triple Talaq, my government has been recognised as a decisive government,” she said.
The president’s address reflects the views of the government of the day.
In September 2016, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes against terrorist camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. A week back, Congress’ Digvijaya Singh made controversial remarks questioning the surgical strike. However, party leader Rahul Gandhi trashed the comments as “ridiculous”.
Murmu said “unprecedented infrastructure” has been developed in the border areas in the past few years from the point of view of national security.
“My government firmly believes that lasting peace is possible only when we are strong politically and strategically. Therefore, we are constantly laying emphasis on the modernisation of our military strength,” she said.
The President also mentioned the commissioning of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, rolling out of the Agnipath recruitment scheme and the ‘Vibrant Village’ programme to provide better facilities to the border areas.
She also highlighted the six-fold increase in defence exports and renaming islands of Andaman and Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra awardees of the Indian Army. “My government has started working on the Vibrant Village programme to provide better facilities to the border villages. From the point of view of national security too, unprecedented infrastructure has been developed in the border areas in the past few years,” she said.
“This has accelerated development in such areas. The left-wing extremism, which had become a major threat to national security in the last few decades, has now been confined to a few districts,” she added.
Murmu said islands of Andaman and Nicobar have also been named after Param Vir Chakra awardees of the Indian Army.
“On the one hand, the National War Memorial has become a symbol of national valour, while on the other, our Navy has also got the insignia given by Chhatrapati Veer Shivaji Maharaj,” she said.
“As a result of new initiative of my government, our defence exports have grown six times. I am proud that the first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant has also joined our forces,” she noted.
On the Agnipath scheme, she said it is very important for the forces to be enriched with youth power, to be proficient in warfare and to be equipped with the power of technology.
“Keeping these principles in mind, Agniveer Yojana has been launched. This will give maximum opportunity to the youth of the country to serve the nation through the armed forces,” she said.
Under the Agnipath scheme, announced on June 14 last year, the three services are recruiting youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 for four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.
For 2022, the upper age limit has been extended to 23 years.
Press Trust of India
