Newsroom24x7 Defence Desk

Lukung, Leh (Ladakh): India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today gave a firm warning to China and said: ” I have full faith and confidence in the Indian armed forces…if any power tries to set its eyes on even an inch of our territory and attack our national pride, we will respond adequately and give a befitting reply”

The Defence Minister was addressing Indian troops at ground zero on the forward post of Lukung, Leh in Ladakh on Friday 17 July.

Singh said that India will not forget the martyrdom of the soldiers who laid down their life for the cause of the nation while fighting the Chinese troops in the Galwan valley. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that their sacrifice will not go in vain.

Singh told the Indian troops that talks are on – both at the military and diplomatic levels – between India and China to settle the border dispute. Matter should be resolved but he cannot guarantee how far we will succeed, he said adding he can certainly give the assurance that no power on earth can claim even an inch of Indian territory.

Singh further said: “India is the only country that has conveyed the message of peace to the entire world and we have never attacked nor taken even an inch of another country’s territory. In fact we follow the tenet of “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam” (वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम) – an ancient Indian philosophy that inculcates the understanding that the whole world is one family , the Minister said and this should not be construed as our weakness. We are not a weak nation. We have a Prime Minister who takes decisions.”

The Defence Minister also recalled the supreme sacrifice and paid glowin g tyributes to the Indian soldiers who had laid down their life during the Kargil War.