New Delhi: China violated the understanding that both sides should desist from taking any provocative action or escalating matters and ensure peace and tranquility as per bilateral agreements and protocol and tried to change the status quo in the South Bank area of Pangong Lake through provocative military maneuvers in the late night of 29 and on 30 August.
The Indian Army responded to these provocative actions and took appropriate defensive measures along the LAC in order to safeguard India’s interests and defend the country’s territorial integrity.
On 31 August, even as the ground commanders of the two sides were in discussions to de-escalate the situation, the Chinese troops again engaged in provocative action. Due to the timely defensive action, the Indian side was able to prevent these attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo.
Responding to a media query on these developments in the India-China Border Areas, India’s Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said:
“The actions and behavior of the Chinese side since earlier this year along the LAC has been in clear violation of the bilateral agreements and protocols concluded between the two countries to ensure peace and tranquility on the border. Such actions are also in complete disregard to the understandings reached between the two Foreign Ministers as also the Special Representatives.
We have taken up the matter of recent provocative and aggressive actions with Chinese side through both diplomatic and military channels and have urged them to discipline and control their frontline troops from undertaking such provocative actions.
The Indian side is firmly committed to resolve all outstanding issues along the LAC in the Western Sector through peaceful dialogue. In this context, we expect the Chinese side to sincerely abide by the understanding reached earlier and earnestly work with the India to resolve the situation and to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Nation on the occasion of 74th Independence Day from the ramparts of Red Fort, in Delhi.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose the Independence Day to convey a stron message to both Pakistan and China by underscoring that from LoC to LAC, the Indian soldiers have given a befitting reply to those who have dared to challenge the sovereignty of India.
The Prime Minister was addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, for the seventh time in a row, on the occasion of Independence Day. He was resolute in stating that the country was fighting terrorism and expansionism with firm determination.
In the backdrop of the border row with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and many incidents of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, the Prime Minister particularly drew attention to China’s misadventure and cowardly attack on Indian troops in the Galwan Valley and said he salutes the brave Indian soldiers who are always ready for the supreme sacrifice to protect India’s territorial integrity and soverignty. The entire world has seen the bravery and the fighting spirit of the Indian soldiers in Ladakh, Modi observed.
Highlights from Prime Minister’s Speech
In this extraordinary time of Corona, Corona warriors have lived the mantra of ‘Seva Parmo Dharma.’ Our doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, ambulance personnel, safai karmacharis, policemen, service personnel and many people are working round the clock continuously.
Expressing grief over loss of lives in various parts of the country due to natural calamities, he reassured fellow citizens of full support in this hour of need.
India’s freedom struggle inspired the entire world. The idea of expansionism left some countries enslaved. Even in the midst of fierce wars, India did not allow its freedom movement to suffer.
Amid Covid pandemic, 130 crore Indians took the resolve to be self-reliant, and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ is on the mind of India. This dream is turning into a pledge. Aatmanirbhar Bharat has become a ‘mantra’ for the 130 crore Indians today. I am confident of the abilities, confidence and potential of my fellow Indians. Once we decide to do something, we do not rest till we achieve that goal.
Today, the whole world is inter-connected and inter-dependent. It’s time for India to play an important role in the global economy. For this, India has to become self-reliant. From agriculture, space to healthcare, India is taking several steps to build Atmanirbhar Bharat. I am confident that measures, like, opening up the space sector will generate many new employment opportunities for our youth and provide further avenues to enhance their skills and potential.
Only a few months ago, we used to import N-95 masks, PPE kits, and ventilators from abroad. We not only made N-95 masks, PPE kits and ventilators during the pandemic, but were able to export these to all over the world.
Apart from ‘Make in India’, we must also embrace the mantra of ‘Make for World’.
National Infrastructure pipeline project worth Rs 110 lakh crore will boost our overall infrastructure projects. We will now focus on multi-model connectivity infrastructure. We can’t work in silos anymore; we need to focus on comprehensive and integrated infrastructure. About 7,000 projects of different sectors have also been identified. It will bring a new revolution in infrastructure sector.
How long will the raw material from our country become a finished product and return to India. There was a time when our agricultural system was very backward. The biggest concern then was how to feed the countrymen. Today, we can feed not only India but many countries of the world. Self-reliant India not only means reduction of imports, but also to increase our skills and our creativity.
The whole world has been noticing the reforms being pursued in India. As a result, the FDI inflow has broken all records. India witnessed 18% jump in FDI even during the Covid pandemic.
Who could have imagined that lakhs of crores of rupees would be directly transferred in the Jan Dhan accounts of the poor in the country? Who could have thought that such a big change would happen in the APMC Act for the benefit of farmers? One Nation-One Ration Card, One Nation – One Tax, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and Merger of Banks is the reality of the country today.
We have worked for women empowerment- Navy and Air Force are taking women in combat, women are now leaders, and we abolished triple talaq, got sanitary pads to women for just 1 rupee.
My dear countrymen, we have been told here – Samarthyamool Swatantryam, Shrammulam Vaibhavam. The strength of a society, the freedom of any nation is its power, and the source of its prosperity and progress is its labor force.
7 crore poor families were given free gas cylinders, more than 80 crore people were provided free food with or without ration cards, about 90 thousand crores were directly transferred to bank accounts. Gharib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan has also been started to provide employment to poor in their villages.
The campaign for Vocal for Local, Re-Skill and Up-Skill will bring about a self-reliant economy in the lives of people living below the poverty line.
Many regions of the country have also lagged behind in terms of development. By choosing more than 110 such aspirational districts, special efforts are being made there so that the people get better education, better health facilities, and better employment opportunities.
Self-reliant India has an important priority – self-sufficient agriculture and self-reliant farmers. To provide modern infrastructure to the farmers of the country, a few days ago ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’ of Rs 1 lakh crore has been created.
From this same Red Fort, last year, I announced the mission of Jal Jeevan. Today, under this mission, every day more than one lakh houses are getting water connection.
Professionals emanating from the middle class make their mark not only in India but in the whole world. The middle class needs opportunity, the middle class needs freedom from government interference.
This is also the first time when the EMI of a home loan for your home is getting a rebate of up to 6 lakh rupees during the payment period. Just last year, a fund of 25 thousand crore rupees has been established to complete thousands of incomplete houses
Education of the country has great importance in building self-reliant India, in building modern India, in building new India, in building prosperous India. With this thinking, the country has got a new National Education Policy.
In Corona’s time, we have seen what the role of Digital India campaign has been. Just last month, almost 3 lakh crore rupees have been transacted from BHIM UPI alone.
Before 2014, only 5 dozen panchayats in the country were connected with optical fiber. In the last five years, 1.5 lakh gram panchayats in the country have been connected with optical fiber. All 6 lakh villages in the country will be connected with optical fiber within coming 1000 days.
My dear countrymen, our experience says that whenever there is an opportunity for women power in India, they have brought laurels to the country, strengthened the country. Today, women are not only working in underground coal mines, but also flying fighter planes, touching new heights in sky.
Of the 40 crore Jan Dhan accounts opened in the country, about 22 crore accounts are of women only. At the time of Corona, in April-May-June, about thirty thousand crores of rupees have been directly transferred to the accounts of women in these three months.
When Corona started, there was only one Lab for Corona Testing in our country. Today there are more than 1,400 Labs in the country.
Another very big campaign is going to start in the country from today. This is the National Digital Health Mission. Every Indian will be given a health ID. National Digital Health Mission will bring a new revolution in India’s health sector. All your tests, every disease, which doctor gave you which medicine, when, what were your reports, all these information will be contained in this one health ID.
Today, not one, not two, three vaccines of Corana are currently under testing phase in India. As soon as the green signal is received from the scientists, the country’s preparation is also ready for mass production of those vaccines.
This year is the year of a new development journey of Jammu and Kashmir. This year is the year of rights for women and Dalits in Jammu and Kashmir! It is also a year of the dignified life of refugees in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a matter of pride for all of us that the representatives of the local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir are pushing forward a new era of development with activism and sensitivity.
By making Ladakh a Union Territory last year, the old demand of its people has been met. Ladakh, situated in the heights of the Himalayas, is moving forward today to touch new heights of development. Just as Sikkim has made its mark as an Organic State, in the coming days, Ladakh, will make its identity as a carbon neutral region, work is also being done in this direction.
A special campaign with a holistic approach to reduce pollution in 100 selected cities of the country is also being worked on.
India is fully sensitive to the preservation and promotion of its biodiversity. In the recent past, the tiger population has increased at a rapid pace in the country! Now a project lion for our Asiatic lions is also going to be started in the country. Similarly, Project Dolphin will also be launched.
From the LOC to the LAC, whoever has raised eyes on the sovereignty of the country, the country, the army of the country has responded in the same language. Respect for India’s sovereignty is supreme for us. What our brave soldiers can do for this resolution, what the country can do, the world has seen this in Ladakh.
A quarter of the world’s population lives in South Asia. We can create untold possibilities of development and prosperity of such a large population with cooperation and participation.
Our border and coastal infrastructure also have a huge role in the security of the country. Be it the Himalayan peaks or the islands of the Indian Ocean, today there is an unprecedented expansion of road and internet connectivity in the country.
There are more than 1300 islands in our country. In view of their geographical location, considering their importance in the development of the country, work is underway to start new development schemes in some of these selected islands. After Andaman and Nicobar islands, in the next 1000 days, Lakshadweep will also be connected to submarine optical fiber cable.
The expansion of NCC will be ensured to 173 border and coastal districts of the country. Under this campaign, special training will be given to about 1 lakh new NCC Cadets. In this also, about one-third of the daughters will be given this special training
Our Policies, Our Process, Our Products, Everything should be Best, Must be best. Only then will we be able to realize the vision of Ek Bharat-Shresth Bharat.
The middle class will be the biggest beneficiaries of ‘Ease of Living’; from cheap internet to economical air tickets, highways to i-ways, and from affordable housing to tax reduction – all these measures will empower the middle-class people of the country.
Jammu:Congratulating Gen YK Joshi, Army Commander Northern Command, Veteran General Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, 92, the last General of the Maharaja Hari Singh’s State Forces of Gen Zorawar Singh, now the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles that had founded the unique Dogra State under Maharaja Gulab Singh said “you have seen Jammu Dogras have never been given their due and their History Distorted that is what is now Distory”.
Brigadier Rajinder Singh
General Jamwal strongly feels that Brig Rajinder Singh is the worst sufferer of this Distory. He was denied PVC. It was all due to Sheikh Abdullah and Jawaharlal Nehru who were against Maharaja Hari Singh and the Dogras, primarily the Dogra State Forces, of which Brig Rajinder singh was the Chief.
Prime Minister in Ladakh
Gen Jamwal said in a message to the Army Commander that it was a great day to see him with the Prime Minister in the land conquered by the Dogras. It was Gen Zorawar Singh, who gave the country the strategic depth in Ladakh and Baltistan across the Himalayas.
It was a historic Day which will be remembered by the Nation and the Army for long time and what a credit to the soldiers at the highest battlefield of the world.
Now remembering the Heroes of 1962 and the Galwan warriors we pay tribute to them and to Gen Zorawar Singh whose remains lie at Toyo across the borders.
We are in the most tumultuous period of history. The first Quarter of the 21st century will decide whether we will retrieve what we have lost in the last millennium and the next few years are vital. To my mind die is cast. And there is no choice – General Goverdhan Singh Jamwal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Army hospital, in Ladakh on 3 July, 2020.
* Due to the exemplary bravery of our Armed Forces in the recent weeks, the world has taken note of India’s strength * India’s commitment to peace should not be seen as India’s weakness * Era of expansionism is over, this is the era of development * Expenditure on border infrastructure has been enhanced three times
–Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Indian troops, during his visit to Nimu in Ladakh on 3 July, 2020.
Leh (Ladakh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Nimu in Ladakh to interact with Indian troops earlier on Friday 3 July 2020. Nimu is surrounded by the Zanskar range and is on the banks of river Indus. The Prime Minister met the top leadership of the Indian Army and later interacted with personnel of the Army, Air Force and ITBP.
Tribute to the valour of the soldiers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying tributes to the valour of the soldiers, during his visit to Nimu in Ladakh on 3July, 2020.
Paying rich tributes to the valour of the Indian Armed Forces, the Prime Minister said their courage and devotion to Mother India is unparalleled. He stated that Indians can go about their lives peacefully because they know that our Armed Forces are standing firm and protecting the nation.
The Prime Minister said that due to the exemplary bravery of the Armed Forces in the recent weeks, the world has taken note of India’s strength.
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Remembering the sacrifice at Galwan Valley
Prime Minister remembered all the proud sons of Mother India who made the supreme sacrifice at the Galwan Valley. He said that those who were martyred belong to all parts of India and epitomize our land’s ethos of bravery.
He affirmed that be it Leh-Ladakh, Kargil or the Siachen Glacier, be it the high mountains or the icy cold water that flows in the rivers, these are testimony to the gallantry of India’s Armed Forces. The enemies of India have seen the fire and fury of our forces, said the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister also paid homage to two Matas: to Mother India and to the Mothers of all the brave soldiers and security forces of India who serve India with full devotion.
Our commitment to peace is not our weakness
Prime Minister spoke at length about how the virtues of peace, friendship and courage have been a part of India’s culture since times immemorial. He recalled that India has always given a befitting reply to anyone who has tried to disturb the atmosphere of peace and progress.
He affirmed that India is committed to peace and friendship but this commitment to peace should not be seen as India’s weakness. Today India is becoming stronger, be it in naval might, air power, space power and the strength of our Army. Modernization of weapons and upgradation of infrastructure has enhanced our defence capabilities manifold.
Prime Minister recalled that Indian soldiers had a long history of bravery and competence in global military campaigns, including in the two World Wars.
Era of development
Prime Minister said that the time for expansionism is over. This is the era of development. He recalled that it is this mindset of expansionism that has done great harm.
Modi said that in the last few years, several steps have been taken for the wellbeing of India’s forces and furthering India’s security preparedness. This includes ensuring availability of modern weaponry, increased border infrastructure, border area development and expansion of the road network. He further said that expenditure on border infrastructure has been enhanced three times.
Prime Minister also talked about the efforts to strengthen the national security apparatus and to ensure the well-being of our armed forces. He highlighted recent initiatives of the government such as creation of CDS, construction of a grand National War Memorial, fulfilment of OROP after decades and steps to ensure the well-being of the families of the armed forces personnel.
Culture of Ladakh
During the interaction, Prime Minister recalled the greatness of Ladakh’s culture as well as the noble teachings of Kushok Bakula Rimpoche. He described Ladakh as a land of sacrifice and a land that has given several patriots.
Prime Minister affirmed that the people of India are inspired by the teachings of Gautama Buddha, for whom courage was linked to conviction and compassion.
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