Modi Says India Will No Longer Be ‘Helpless’ In Fighting Terrorism
Modi says a ‘new India’ will pay back terrorists with ‘interest’.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday declared that the country will no longer be “helpless” in the face of terror, saying a “new India” will pay back terrorists with “interest”.
“This is a new India, this is an India that will return the damage done by terrorists with interest,” Modi said addressing an election rally in Tamil Nadu. “The influence of terrorists and terrorism is curtailed and is going to be curtailed even more.”
Modi also accused some opposition parties of doubting the armed forces and his government’s fight against terrorism, saying their statements are helping Pakistan and harming the country.
“These are the same people whose statements are helping Pakistan and harming India. They are the same people whose statements are happily quoted in the Parliament of Pakistan and in the radio of Pakistan,” Modi said.
He did not name any party.
The prime minister also hailed Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who is supposed to be handed over to India today. “Every Indian is proud that the brave Wing Commander Abhinandan belongs to Tamil Nadu.”
Reiterating his government's resolve against terrorism by retaliation, Modi slammed the previous Congress-led UPA government for not following such aggressive tactics and accused it of “blocking” surgical strikes after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in November 2008.
The country has been facing the menace of terrorism for years “but there is a big difference now...India will no longer be helpless in the face of terror,” Modi said.
The events of the past two days—Indian Air Force's air strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp inside Pakistan and shooting down a Pakistan jet have demonstrated yet again the strengths of the country’s armed forces, he said.
“It has also brought our nation closer,” the prime minister said, an obvious pointer to the outpouring of support to Varthaman and India’s armed forces from the people.
He asserted that the entire world was supporting India in its fight against terror.
Modi also said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections was about offering strength against vulnerability, asserting the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance would provide stability.