Lukung (Leh), July 17: Defense minister Rajnath Singh on his maiden visit to Ladakh post June 15 violent clash between the armies of China and India, on Friday, said that no power in the world can take away an inch of the land that belongs to India.
Singh, who was addressing the joint forces at Lukung in Leh, according to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that India is not a weak country, no power across the globe can take away an inch of the land and if there is anyone trying to cause harm, there will be a befitting reply. The defense minister along with the Chief of Defence staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff MM Naravane reached Leh this morning to review the security scenario in the eastern Ladakh.
He said talks are going on between China and India to resolve the border tensions. “The matter must be sorted though I can’t guarantee to what extent,” he said. “India is not a weak country. I can assure that not an inch of Indian Territory can be encroached by any power in the world but there can’t be anything better if the matter is sorted through talks only as it has no other alternative. Dialogue is going on at both military and diplomatic level.”
He said India is the only nation across the globe which gave a message of peace to all nor has it ever attacked or encroached anyone’s land, something acknowledged by the global citizens as part of a family.
“We don’t want tensions rather we want peace as we have never intended to harm any nation. If there is any nation intending to cause us harm that won’t be tolerated at any cost and we will be always ready to give a befitting reply,” he said as per KNO
Praising the joint forces, the Defence Minister said: “I am proud of you all since we believe in you and the death of our 20 soldiers have deeply saddened all of us including me and 130 crore Indians but no one can harm our national integrity.”
Singh said that he was happy to meet Joint Forces at the forward posts as the anniversary of Drass and Kargil heroes is scheduled to be celebrated on July 26. “So I am here to pay them rich tributes. Their contribution for India will act as source of inspiration forever,” he said—
