India believes in resolving disputes through dialogue with neighbouring countries, but is always prepared to give a befitting reply if provoked, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.
During his address to the officers and jawans of the Indian Army’s 14 Corps at Karu Military Station in Ladakh, Singh stated that India is a peace-loving nation that never resorts to any kind of aggression, but at the same time, it is always prepared to give a befitting reply if provoked.
He reiterated the government’s stand of resolving disputes through dialogue with neighbouring countries, but assured the country that the safety and security of the nation will not be compromised at any cost.
The Indian military has for long flagged the threat of a two-front war. With the disputed border with China, and Pakistan active at the same point of time, the Armed Forces are on high alert and preparedness.
The Defence Minister assured all possible support to the Armed Forces, reaffirming the vision of the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of a strong military that is capable of dealing with every eventuality
The Defence Minister paid rich tributes to the brave jawans who laid down their lives in the service of the nation during the Galwan Valley incident in 2020, saying that the country will never forget their supreme sacrifice.
He lauded the exemplary courage displayed by the Indian Army during the incident and stated that the nation is proud of its Armed Forces.
He also commended the 14th Corps for their invaluable contribution during the 1965 Indo-Pak War as well as the 1999 Kargil war.
General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt. General Y.K. Joshi and General Officer Commanding of the 14 Corps Lt. General P.G.K. Menon were among those present on the occasion.
Rajnath meets army veterans in Ladakh
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacted with 300 veterans in Leh, as part of his three-day visit to Ladakh, and reiterated the government’s commitment towards the welfare of ex-servicemen.
Singh interacted with 300 veterans, including Ashok Chakra winner Naib Subedar (Honorary) Chhering Mutup (Retd) and Maha Vir Chakra winner Colonel Sonam Wangchuk (Retd), at Leh
In his address, Singh lauded the unparalleled dedication of the veterans in ensuring safety and security of the nation, reiterating the government’s commitment towards the welfare of the ex-servicemen.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to roll out ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme, ending a decades long wait, was a testimony to the government’s unwavering commitment towards the welfare and satisfaction of the veterans.
“Our aim is to take care of you in the same way as you all have taken care of the security of the country,” he said.
Listing out other measures taken by the Modi government to ensure the welfare of the veterans, the minister said a number of steps have been taken to address the issue of resettlement, including organising job fairs through Directorate General Resettlement, in which a large number of veterans were given employment.
He added that a number of online services under ‘Digital India’ have been introduced for the veterans. These include launch of ‘e-Sehat’ portal to provide tele-medicine services, especially during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the introduction of Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) to address the problems faced by the ex-servicemen.
Lt. Governor of Ladakh Shri R.K. Mathur, MP from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Chief of Army Staff General M.M. Naravane and General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt. Gen. Y.K. Joshi were present on the occasion.
Later, Singh met the elected representatives of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils, Leh, Kargil and officials.
During his stay, he will inaugurate infrastructure projects constructed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and interact with troops deployed in the region.