PM Modi on IAF attack in PoK: In his first public comments after the air strikes in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country is in safe hands and that he will not let the country down. The prime minister stressed that nothing was above the nation. "Today is a day to pay homage to India's bravehearts. I want to assure you that the country is in safe hands," he said at a public rally in Churu. "I vow that I will not let the country bow down," he said.

In a swift and precise air strike following the Pulwama attack, India bombed and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Pakistan early Tuesday, killing a "very large number" of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders. The operation, described as a non-military, preemptive strike, was welcomed by the entire political spectrum and military experts who had been advocating retribution after the February 14 suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama claimed by JeM.

PM while addressing the rally further said, "Today I repeat what I said back in 2014 - Saugandh mujhe is mitti ki main desh nahi mitne doonga, main desh nahi rukne doonga. Main desh nahi jhukne doonga....Mera vachan hai Bharat maa ko, tera sheesh nahi jhukne doonga..."


PM Modi’s visit assumes political significance too as it comes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. It is Modi's second public meeting in Rajasthan within four days. He had visited Tonk on February 23. State Chief Secretary D B Gupta held a high-level meeting to review the preparations for the rally.

During the rally, PM also attacked Congress government in Rajasthan, saying it wants to stop benefits given by Centre to farmers. He further said, "Within next 10 years Rs 7.5 Lakh Crore will be deposited in the accounts of farmers. They will not have to do anything for it. They will directly get a notification on their mobile phones, saying that they have received the amount."

Earlier in the day, PM Modi made an indirect reference to IAF's air strikes when he sought an apology from the audience at the Rashtrapati Bhawan for being late as he was busy with some other work. "First of all, my apologies or being late. The programme started late as I reached here (Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan) late. I was busy in some other work and I was late," he said.