Modi's message to China, Pak: Respect for India's sovereignty is supreme

In an inspiring speech on the occasion of the country's 74th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the respect for India's sovereignty is supreme and the Indian Army has responded with bravery from the Line of Control (LoC) to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to defend Indian territory.

Highlighting the exemplary response of Indian troops in the Galwan Valley on the India-China border in May and June this year, Modi said: "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 in Ladakh." He was referring to the violent and barbaric attack by the PLA soldiers on June 15 in which India lost 20 soldiers and around 35-46 Chinese PLA troops were killed. China has admitted to casualties on the Indian border but not disclosed the numbers.

Sending a clear message to iron brothers China and Pakistan, who straddle India on the eastern, northern and western borders, Modi had a straight forward message: "Be it terrorism or expansionism, India is standing up to both and defeating it. From LoC to LAC, whenever India has been challenged, our soldiers have given a fitting response in a language they understand."

The PM spoke for about 90 minutes – thanking the coronavirus warriors, making the country self-reliant, developing infrastructure, uplifting women and focus on technology, better prices for farmers, relations with neighbours, dealing with unprovoked aggression from Pakistan and China and taking the country forward.

He said that the South Asian region hosts one-fourth of the world's population and the region can create untold possibilities of development and prosperity with cooperation and participation. His message to the South Asian leaders was: "All the leaders of the countries of this region have an important responsibility towards the development and progress of this huge mass group."

The Prime Minister highlighted that though India stands for peace and harmony, it remains committed to its security and to make its defence forces stronger. "India is also fully equipped for self-sufficiency in defence production," he added..