BHOPAL: Defence minister Rajnath Singh Saturday doubled down on his comment that India would not hesitate to pursue terrorists into Pakistan if they sought refuge there – “ghar mein ghuske marenge” – even as Pakistan’s foreign ministry reacted strongly to his statement, calling it “provocative and myopic”.
Addressing poll rallies at Singrauli and Sidhi in MP, Rajnath said: “India is no longer a weak country.If provoked, we can even go across the border to take action. The country has already demonstrated this in PM Modi’s rule in the last 10 years.”
While reassuring people that India’s borders were secure, Singh asserted: “We want to maintain good relations with neighbouring countries. Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that one can change one’s friends but not one’s neighbours. We follow this (friendly approach). But, if anyone tries to promote terrorism in our country, we will give a befitting reply.”
He also stressed that the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal would streamline the electoral process, strengthen democracy and conserve the country’s resources. “This is also a way to stop horse trading,” he claimed.
On Ram mandir, Rajnath said people used to question BJP’s commitment to building the temple. “Now, they have witnessed Lord Ram’s presence in Ayodhya. The Lord has been placed in his abode, and Ram Rajya will commence in India,” he said.
BJP had also fulfilled its vow to revoke Article 370. The promise to enact a citizenship law had been accomplished, too, Singh said, stressing that CAA was not discriminatory towards Muslims. No Muslim citizen of India would be thrown out of the country, he said, and accused the opposition of misleading people.
Addressing poll rallies at Singrauli and Sidhi in MP, Rajnath said: “India is no longer a weak country.If provoked, we can even go across the border to take action. The country has already demonstrated this in PM Modi’s rule in the last 10 years.”
While reassuring people that India’s borders were secure, Singh asserted: “We want to maintain good relations with neighbouring countries. Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that one can change one’s friends but not one’s neighbours. We follow this (friendly approach). But, if anyone tries to promote terrorism in our country, we will give a befitting reply.”
He also stressed that the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal would streamline the electoral process, strengthen democracy and conserve the country’s resources. “This is also a way to stop horse trading,” he claimed.
On Ram mandir, Rajnath said people used to question BJP’s commitment to building the temple. “Now, they have witnessed Lord Ram’s presence in Ayodhya. The Lord has been placed in his abode, and Ram Rajya will commence in India,” he said.
BJP had also fulfilled its vow to revoke Article 370. The promise to enact a citizenship law had been accomplished, too, Singh said, stressing that CAA was not discriminatory towards Muslims. No Muslim citizen of India would be thrown out of the country, he said, and accused the opposition of misleading people.