In his first rally as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 General Elections, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Sunday, lauded the armed forces for their sacrifice and slammed the government at Centre for its foreign policies.
Modi spoke on national security and matters concerning ex-servicemen, including challenges faced by them in seeking post-retirement employment.
He also attacked the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for its handling of security issues such as incursions by China, repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan and instances of attack on Indian soldiers.
Addressing a massive rally of ex-soldiers in this Haryana town, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate told Pakistan to shun its anti-India attitude and stop backing terrorism against India.
“The rulers in Pakistan should resolve that they will not allow terrorists to (operate) in Pakistan for 10 years, will not protect terrorists, will not allow its soil to be the breeding ground for terrorists. I can say with authority that if this happens, Pakistan will see the progress that it has not seen in the last 60 years (since it got independence),” he said.
Modi said Pakistan had “converted India into a war zone through its war mindset and support for terrorism.”
“Earlier, the war used to take place on the border. But when you (Pakistan) could not defeat the Indian Army, you started going for killing innocent citizens.”
“Killing innocents through cross border terrorism is neither going to help Pakistan nor India.”
Amid cheers, Modi went on: “You cannot progress with anti-India tirade. You cannot progress on this basis… For you own interests and for the youth of your country, you should rethink the wrong path you have chosen in the last 60 years and step back.”
“I want to tell the rulers whether it is of Bangladesh, India or Pakistan: if we have to fight, we should fight against poverty, illiteracy and other ills.”
Thousands of people, including former soldiers, turned up for Modi’s first public rally as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate.
He insisted that ex-serviceman should be brought in the mainstream to change society. Underlining the need to be self-reliant, Modi said the country should dream of exporting not importing weapons.
He also advised politicians to take inspiration of secularism from the Indian Army.
The Sachar Committee has committed a sin as it wanted to count Hindus and Muslims, said Modi.
Hitting out at the UPA over its handling of the LoC killings, Modi said: “If you don’t want to shed tears for our dead then don’t but at least don’t mock them”.
Adding that Army is not the priority for our leaders, Modi noted that the government seems to think that the Army people have signed up to be killed.