India has the power to respond decisively to an attack: Defence Minister

Guwahati – ‘India worships peace. But at the same time, it can deliver a fitting retaliation against an attack. Last year, the Indian soldiers demonstrated exemplary courage and bravery in the Galwan Valley conflict in Ladakh. I salute the Indian soldiers who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the country.’ The Indian military paid homage to the martyrs in the Galwan Valley conflict on completion of a year. But the defence minister picked the function in Assam to pay tribute to the martyrs.

Border Road Organisation (BRO) has built 12 roads connecting the northeastern states. These roads near the Chinese border are strategically significant. The function to dedicate these roads to the nation was held at Bilgar in Assam. Defence Chief General Bipin Rawat attended the function along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The defence minister took this opportunity to pay tribute to the martyrs and said that he salutes the courage and bravery of the Indian soldiers. The Defence Minister presented the Indian stand in clear words, ‘India is a worshipper of peace. But India has the capability that any attack on India will face a fitting retaliation.’ Saying this, Rajnath Singh pointed out that India’s love for peace should not be misinterpreted as its weakness.

These roads constructed by the BRO, closely connecting the northeastern states, are 285 kilometres in length. One of the roads connects Kimin in Arunachal Pradesh to Potin in Assam. It is also being said that one of the roads will join Ladakh, and another one will connect to Jammu. The remaining nine roads make the movement more accessible in the border regions of Arunachal Pradesh. The road connecting to the eastern border is strategically critical, and the defence minister expressed confidence that this will prove to be a game-changer.

The defence minister claimed that the construction of these roads becomes a part of the Indian Act East policy. Rajnath Singh also pointed out that BRO has created a record by constructing 4,800 kilometres long roads since 2014 and praised the BRO for the achievement. There have been significant changes in the Indian defence policy over the last few years. The post of defence chief has been created. The defence minister also made a special mention that the government has set a goal that the weapons required by the military should be manufactured in the country and should also be exported.

Meanwhile, as one year is being completed since the Galwan conflict, construction of these roads is a stern warning issued by India to China. China claims that Arunachal Pradesh is south Tibet, and therefore, it belongs to China. The Indian Defence Minister inaugurated the border roads, demonstrating India does not pay any heed to the Chinese claim.