“We do not want unrest, we want peace. If any attempt is made to hurt India’s pride, it won’t be tolerated… we will give a befitting reply”: Rajnath Singh on China

India-China talks should resolve the border dispute, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said this afternoon as he interacted with the troops in Ladakh, adding the extent of the success, however, “cannot be guaranteed”. The Defence Minister landed in Ladakh this morning, over a month after the June 15 clash with China in which 20 soldiers were killed in the line of duty.

“Whatever talks have happened so far, the matter should get resolved… but to what extent it would be resolved, I cannot guarantee. However, I want to assure you that not an inch of our land can be taken by any power in the world,” Rajnath Singh told the troops as he visited the Lukung post near Pangong Lake.

The Lukung post is in the northwestern side of lake, 43 km by road from the Finger 4 area, where the troops of India and China are in the process of disengagement. Lukung is a combined post, where the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police are stationed.

The Defence Minister is on a two-day visit to Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Army chief General MM Naravane were seen accompanying him.

“India is the only country in the world that has given a message of peace to the world. We have never attacked a nation and have never staked claim to any country’s land. India believes in the message – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (world is one family),” the Defence Minister said today during his address.

We do not want unrest, we want peace. It has not been our nature to hurt any country’s pride. If any attempt is made to hurt India’s pride, it won’t be tolerated… we will give a befitting reply,” Mr Singh said.

“We are proud of our army. I feel proud as I stand among our jawans. Our jawans have laid their lives for the country. All 130 crore Indians are saddened by the loss,” he added.

A few pictures tweeted by Rajanth Singh’s office this morning showed him witnessing the “para dropping and other military exercises” at Stakna forward post. “Witnessed the Fire and Fury of the Indian Army during the Para Dropping and other military demonstrations at Stakna near Leh today.
Also, I got the opportunity to interact with them. I am proud of these brave and courageous soldiers (sic),” Mr. Singh later wrote in a tweet.