In a veiled dig at China over the LAC standoff in eastern Ladakh, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Monday that India faced “an expansionist move” on its borders which was foiled by the country’s valiant soldiers.
In his address to the nation on the eve of 72nd Republic Day, the President said that India is committed to peace but its forces are adequately mobilised in a well-coordinated move to thwart any attempt to undermine security and national interest will be protected at all costs. “The past year was a time of adversity, and it came from many fronts. We faced an expansionist move on our borders, but our valiant soldiers foiled it. To achieve this objective, 20 of them had to lay down their lives,” he said.
“The nation shall remain grateful to those brave soldiers. Though we reiterate our commitment to peace, our defence forces—Army, Air Force and Navy—are adequately mobilised in a well-coordinated move to thwart any attempt to undermine our security. Our national interest will be protected at all costs. We have also ensured a widespread understanding in the international com
munity of India’s firm and principled stand,” he added.
India and China are in a standoff in eastern Ladakh along the LAC since May last year, followed by the Galwan Valley face-off between the two sides on 15-16 June in which 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese soldiers were killed.
The President said that soldiers of the armed forces ensure security of our national boundaries amid severest conditions including in Galwan Valley and Siachen.
“Just as our hardworking farmers ensure food security for the country, the brave soldiers of the armed forces ensure security of our national boundaries amid severest conditions. From the freezing cold at Siachen and Galwan valley in Ladakh with temperatures as low as minus 50 to 60 degree Celsius to the scorching heat in Jaisalmer with temperatures as high as 50 degree Celsius—on land, in the skies and at the vast coastal areas—our warriors are vigilant every moment,” he said.
“Every citizen feels proud about the bravery, patriotism and the spirit of sacrifice among our soldiers,” he added.
The President also emphasised the importance of the long-pending reforms that have been brought in the areas of labour and agriculture through legislation. He said that the “path to reform at the initial stages may cause misapprehensions” but it is beyond doubt that the government remains singularly devoted to farmers’ welfare.
“Economic reforms have continued apace and have been supplemented by long-pending reforms in the areas of labour and agriculture through legislation. The path to reform at the initial stages may cause misapprehensions. However, it is beyond doubt that the government remains singularly devoted to farmers’ welfare,” he said.
The President said equally salient but touching more lives directly is the comprehensive reform in education which was long overdue. “The ‘National Education Policy 2020’, with its stress on tradition as well as technology, will lay the foundation of a New India which aspires to emerge as a knowledge hub on the international stage. This reform promises to incubate innate talent of students and ignite their minds to take up the challenges of life,” he said.
The President said that every Indian salutes farmers, who have made “our vast and populous country self-reliant in food-grains and dairy products”.
