Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened an all-party virtual meet on Friday
Two days after a violent skirmish with Chinese troops led to the death of 20 Army personnel in Ladakh’s Galwan valley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday cautioned that the sacrifices of our soldiers would not go in vain and asserted that no one should have any doubt that the country was capable of “giving a befitting reply when instigated” as India would not “compromise with its integrity and sovereignty”.
“Nobody should have any doubts or delusion (bhram) at all that India wants peace but it is capable to give a befitting reply when instigated. The nation must be proud of its warriors who laid down their lives while killing enemies,” said Modi, who observed a two-minute silence in tribute to the soldiers who died before starting his second meeting with Chief Ministers on the coronavirus crisis.
“I would like to assure the nation that the sacrifices of our soldiers will not go in vain. For us, the integrity and sovereignty of our nation is paramount,” said the Prime Minister.
Modi’s remarks came after the Opposition unleashed vehement criticism on the “silence” of the Prime Minister on the tension at the borders, which have been going on for almost a month.
The Prime Minister, who along with his party rode on the strong image they had cultivated and the masculine nationalism they have propagated, said India, a peace-loving nation, always ensured that differences should not become disputes.
“Culturally India is a peace-loving nation. In every era we have wished for peace and welfare of the humanity. We have always cooperated and worked with cooperation as well as in a friendly way with our neighbours. We have always wished for the welfare of our neighbours. We have also tried to ensure that differences do not turn into disputes. We never instigate anyone but we never compromise with the integrity and sovereignty of our nation,” Modi said.
“We never provoke anyone but we will not compromise with integrity and sovereignty. Whenever time has come, we have proved our strength and capabilities in protecting our integrity and sovereignty. Sacrifice and resilience is in our national character, but valour and courage is also part of it,” the Prime Minister reminded.
Modi’s remarks came after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had warned that the nation would never forget the “bravery and sacrifice” of the soldiers.
Mourning the death of the soldiers, Singh said on Twitter: “The loss of soldiers in Galwan is deeply disturbing and painful. Our soldiers displayed exemplary courage and valour in the line of duty and sacrificed their lives in the highest traditions of the Indian Army. The Nation will never forget their bravery and sacrifice. My heart goes out to the families of the fallen soldiers. The nation stand shoulder to shoulder with them in this difficult hour. We are proud of the bravery and courage of India’s brave hearts.”
With Opposition leaders, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda questioning the government’s silence over the developments at the borders, Modi has called for an all party meeting on Friday to discuss the situation. Leaders of all parties would attend the meeting on a video platform on Friday.
Taking to Twitter, Rahul Gandhi asked: “Why is the Prime Minister silent? Why is he hiding? Enough is enough. We need to know what has happened. How dare China kill our soldiers? How dare they take our land?”
Meanwhile, the series of meetings between the political and military leadership of the country continued on Wednesday with the defense minister getting briefed about the ground situation by the military top brass once again.The meeting took place at 10 in the morning and was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General MM Naravane, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Chief of Air Force Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.
Home Minister Amit Shah was also briefed by DSS Deswal, Director General of the Into-Tibetan Border Police, which is responsible for the border with China’s autonomous Tibet.
This is the first time in the last 45 years that Indian or Chinese troops have been killed on the LAC. In 1975, an Indian patrol was ambushed by the Chinese in Arunachal Pradesh. Prior to that, there was a violent showdown in Nathu La in Sikkim in 1967 in which 88 Indian soldiers and over 300 Chinese soldiers were killed.