Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said a few strong statements at the inauguration of the strategic Siyom bridge on the Along-Yinkiong road in the border state. In his speech, he said that India’s armed forces are always prepared for war-like situations.
Rajnath also said India has neither been an aggressor nor has the country ever started a war. This is his first visit to Arunachal Pradesh after the border skirmish between the Indian Army and the Chinee people’s Liberation Army (PLA) last month.
“India has never started any war on its own or grabbed even an inch of land [of other countries]. If anyone mistakes this cordiality and peace-loving nature as our weakness, I would like to tell them while we are believers of ‘shanti’ (peace), we are also followers of ‘shakti’ (strength),” Singh said.
Speaking at the inauguration of the strategic Siyom bridge on the Along-Yinkiong Road in the border state’s Siang district, the defence minister said, “We don’t believe in war, but if anyone compels us, we have always responded with all our might and will continue to do so. We are pretty confident about that.”