PM Modi reminds those challenging India’s sovereignty saying our armed forces given befitting replies from LOC to LAC
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi has warned the expansionist China and Pakistan, PRC’’s all-weather ally, reminding them that Indian soldiers have given a befitting reply to those who challenged the country’s sovereignty “from LoC to LAC”.Without naming them, in his 7th Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, PM Modi sent a strong message to them apparently referring to the June skirmishes at LAC in East Ladakh and Islamabad’s repeated attempts to internationalize Jammu & Kashmir’s internal affairs. India is fighting terrorism as well as expansionism with determination, he said and asserted that the respect for India’s sovereignty is supreme and that the world has seen in Ladakh what India’s brave jawans can do to maintain this resolve.
“I salute all those brave soldiers from the Red Fort. “From LoC to LAC, anyone who casts an eye on the sovereignty of the country, our armed forces have responded in the language they understand,” Modi said, adding the whole country is united in protecting the sovereignty of the country. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the violent clash with Chinese armies in Galwan Valley. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out the details. PM Modi also stressed the need for India to become self-reliant using its vast natural resources to produce for the domestic as well as the global market. Modi said in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, 130 crore Indians have pledged to build an ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’. He expressed confidence that India will reach the goal. He reminded the nation the country has received record Foreign Direct Investment (FDR) during the last fiscal. FDI growth was recorded at 18 percent. Even during the Coronavirus pandemic, big global companies are looking towards India. Modi reiterated the ‘Vocal for Local’ call should be our mantra saying India should strive for meeting the needs of the world as well. He wondered how long the country would continue to export raw materials and import finished products. India has vast natural resources and the need of the hour is to utilise these in the national interest. The nation has to move forward with the mantra of Make for the World along with Make-in-India. ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ does not mean only reducing dependence on imports, but strengthening India’s capacity, creativity.
Despite numerous challenges in becoming self-reliant, there are millions of solutions as well. India has always believed that the entire world is one family and while India focuses on economic growth and development, humanity must retain a central role in this process. Citing an example of what India can do, Modi said before the COVID-19 pandemic, the country was not making N-95 masks, PPE and ventilators, but now it is in a position to export such items. The Prime Minister said that Atma Nirbhar Krishi and Atma Nirbhar Kisan are priorities of an Atma Nirbhar India. The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of Rs one lakh crore has been created recently to give modern infrastructure to the farmers of the country. The Jal Jeevan Mission was announced from the Red Fort last year and now, more than one lakh houses are getting water connection every day.
