Referring to the brave Indian soldiers who took apart the Chinese PLA soldiers during the Ladakh skirmish in 2020, Rajnath said, “I cannot say openly what they (Indian soldiers) did and what decisions we (the government) took. But I can definitely say that a message has gone (to China) that India will not spare anyone if India is harmed. (“Bharat ko agar koi chherega to Bharat chhorega nahi”)
The 2020 standoff in Ladakh
The standoff with the Chinese military started in May 2020, following a violent and sudden attack by the PLA wussies. The Indian forces quickly retaliated, despite being ambushed and managed to maim and kill the PLA troops. While 20 soldiers died on the Indian side, the Chinese never released the actual numbers. However, several leaked reports suggested that the numbers could have crossed the triple-digit mark.
Since then, the standoff on the border has continued despite dozens of military-level talks. India has been guarding the strategically superior higher peaks which have put the Chinese at disadvantage in the region.
India will be a Top-3 economy: Rajnath Singh
During the reception, Rajnath Singh also asserted that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as a powerful country and is headed to be among the top three economies of the world.
He said, “The image of India has changed. The prestige of India has improved. In the next few years, no power in the world can stop India from becoming the world’s top three economies,”
Rajnath Singh and his strong words for China
There is no denying the fact that the bilateral relations between India and China have fallen to a historic low due to China’s constant backstabbing and its zeal to expand its territory at India’s expense.
While India has stood its ground and made China pay dearly in the only language it understands, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has struck a clear and defiant note ever since the stand-off at Ladakh.
As reported by TFI, Rajnath Singh had previously asserted that India had “culturally controlled and dominated” China for over 2,000 years.
The defence minister quoted a Chinese scholar and pointed out how Hu Shih, Vice-Chancellor of Peking University during the Chinese revolution had written about India’s dominance. “(Hu Shih) wrote that India has culturally controlled and dominated China for more than 2,000 years without sending a single soldier. That is the effect of India.”
With the defence minister not afraid of speaking his mind and taking the fight to the enemy, China has continuously remained on the back foot. So much so has been the stature of Rajnath and the weight of his voice that Beijing has never been able to take on him one on one. His statements in San Fransico and no retaliation from Global Times or any of the Chinese mouthpieces prove just the same.
India has been developing infrastructure and arms at a rapid pace
To counter China on the border, an aggressive India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is developing the infrastructure near border areas at a pace hitherto unseen. Moreover, India is quickly becoming a major arms producer.
As reported by TFI, in November last year, Rajnath Singh had reassured the nation that the current administration was successfully striving toward fulfilling PM Modi’s goal of a ‘self-reliant defence industry’.
Informing the nation that currently Indian defence forces use 65 per cent of weapons and products which are made in India, the defence minister promised that soon these 65 per cent will be turned into 90 per cent.
Rajnath Singh’s latest comments on China are indeed refreshing and yet another indication that India won’t budge from its stance if need be. The country will not compromise on its sovereignty and if the push comes to shove, will be ready to take decisive and swift action.