Ahmedabad: Defence Minister Mahohar Parrikar today indicated that the teachings of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) could have helped him and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a strong decision regarding surgical strikes( on the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir based terror launch pads post attack on army base in Uri).

Addressing Pravesh-2016 event organized in the Nirma University campus here to make the younger lot aware about the army and its functioning, Mr Parrikar said, “When I came to central govt as a defense minister, I knew nothing. I wonder the Prime Minister who is from Mahatma Gandhi’s place and a Defense Minister who is from Goa where there’s not not marshal race, and surgical strike(happened). This equation was quite…. may be the RSS teaching was at the core, but this was very different kind of combination.”

Mr Parrikar said that Mr Modi and he were facing a difficult situation when people began questioning them after the Uri attacks.

“After 18 soldiers were martyred in Uri we had to face a lot of difficult situations. Till the 29th of September, the Prime Minister was targeted on the social media and in other media. Some share of the criticism was also directed towards me,” he added.

In an indirect attack on AAP leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriawal and others for demanding proof of army action, the defence minister said, “Some people have been seeking proof (of surgical strikes). Some people will never get convinced even if solid proof is given. When our Army does something we should remember that this is one of the world’s best, professional, brave and an army with high integrity.”

He said that post surgical strike two things have happened for sure. People have become very sensitive about security issue and were intimating us about any suspicious activity and everyone barring a few skeptical politicians who are seeking proof for the surgical strikes from the day it happened to till date, every body else is standing behind our brave soldiers who were guarding our frontiers, Even the retired servicemen were excited and emailing him to join the forces again to serve the nation.

The Defence Minister urged the engineering students to share ideas for innovating/developing of new defence technology keeping in mind the Make in India vision.

Earlier talking to newsmen Mr Parikkar said that ceasefire violations were taking place for 5 to 6 years but it only during this government that befitting reply was being given.

“Ceasefire violations have taken place in hundreds for the last five-six years but the only difference is that if they do it now, we give a befitting reply,” he said.

He said that government was very serious about the national security. To a query regarding the porus Indo-Pak border in Gujarat the Defence Minsiter said that the Border Security Force is tightening security at the border. It is a difficult area where fences can’t be put up everywhere as many places were marshy. However, use of technology to properly fill the gaps is being done to ensure no unauthorized person enters our territory.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja , Chief Secretary J N Singh, In-charge DGP P P Pandey were also present in the event. During the two day event display of army weapons and their working style is being exhibited to attract the younger lot to join the armed forces.

In the event being participated by the students of around 40 universities, Mr Rupani in his address had said that his government would provide jobs to 67 thousand people by April next year.

DeshGujarat