India China Face-Off: Army Has Been Given Free Hand To Take All Necessary Actions, Says PM Modi

While highlighting the capability of India’s armed forces and suggesting they have been given a free hand, PM Modi said that India is upgrading its border infrastructure to make its armed forces better equipped.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: After the supreme sacrifice made by the 20 soldiers in a face-off with the People's Republic of China, at the Galwan valley of Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government has given the army a free hand to take the necessary steps. Addressing the all-party meeting he called to discuss the border situation, Modi said: "Our forces are fully capable of defending our borders." He also asserted that whether it is an issue of trade, connectivity or counter-terrorism, India has not submitted to any external pressure. "What is necessary for national security, whatever infrastructure is needed to be built on the borders, it will be done at the same rapid speed," he said. PM Modi also said that with India has been upgrading its border infrastructure, making its armed forces better equipped, and more frequent patrolling, India is able to better “monitor” developments at the LAC and “respond better”. The Prime Minister also said that one benefit of the improved infrastructure is that is has become easier to reach the necessities to the soldiers living in harsh conditions on the border areas. "India wants peace and friendship, but the issue of its sovereignty is supreme," he said, noting that all participants in the meeting had expressed the same sentiments. “Be it deployment, action, or counter action through land, sea or air, our forces are taking necessary steps to protect the country… The army has been given the freedom to take necessary steps and India has also conveyed its position clearly to China through diplomatic means,” PM Modi said. In the All Party meeting  PM stressed that the government had given primacy to the development of border area infrastructure to make the border more secure, and Jaishankar provided details of the PM’s directions in this regard in 2014. “Provision has also been made for fighter planes, modern helicopters, missile defence systems and other such needs of our forces. Through better infrastructure, supply of material and essentials to jawans in the difficult terrain has become comparatively easier,” said Modi. Also watch: Post all-party meeting, PM Modi's strong-worded response to China