Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first public speech after the > terror attack in Uri did not disappoint in the sharpness of its message to Pakistan. He invoked the people of Pakistan in a direct dialogue, urging them to fight common socio-economic ills that afflict both neighbours, while warning that country's leadership that any threat to India's security will strongly met.
Speaking at a well-attended public meeting on the Kozhikode beach on Saturday on the sidelines of the BJP national council meet, Mr Modi also accused Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of reading from a “script prepared by terrorists” at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last week, in his “serenade to Kashmir”.
Strife in Pak provinces Taking forward his Balochistan speech at the Red Fort on August 15, Mr Modi reminded Pakistan of its own internal strife in Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit. “That day is not far when the people of Pakistan will rise up against its leadership and patronage of terror,” he said.
The rally, held on the first day the BJP's National Council meeting, was expected to contain a strong message to Pakistan, and address the outrage both in the country and Sangh cadre as well, but Mr Modi's speech went much beyond a garden variety assurance of action.
He castigated the leaders of Pakistan for failing their own citizens and instead of addressing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister sought to speak to the Pakistani people, asking to them to demand from their leaders an explanation on why when “our two countries, which got independence almost at the same time, have traversed different paths, it has seen us (India) export soft ware and Pakistan export terror.”
"Every time there is a terror attack, it appears that either the terrorist has come from Pakistan or like Osama Bin Laden has sought asylum there,” he said. In an acidic jab at Mr Sharif, he said the latter's speech "had been written at the behest of his masters, the terrorists, to serenade Kashmir.”
“I want the people of Pakistan to ask their leaders about the fact that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) is with you, why haven't you been able to handle it? What about Pakhtunistan, you haven't been able to handle it; there are insurrections against the government in Gilgit Baltistan and Baluchistan, you haven't been able to handle it. Once, Bangladesh was part of your country, you couldn't handle it. Please handle your own home rather than look across the border,” he said.
The Prime Minister also devoted a significant portion of his speech on the Indian security forces and their record of fighting terror, assuring them that “1.25 billion Indians back our men in uniform”.
17 infiltrations in last few months
“In the last few months, there have been at least 17 incidents of infiltration by Fidayeen terrorists, it claimed 110 lives, but our security forces managed to stop them at the border. Our armed forces, whether they are the Border Security Force, the Central Reserve Police Force and the police forces of Jammu and Kashmir and in the North-Eastern states, have been on the winning side of this battle to protect us. That is because of the morale of its people, and right now the morale of India is sky high and provides strength to the valour of our fighting men,” he said.
“There is a government in Delhi which will not allow the sacrifice of our men to go in vain,” the Prime Minister said.
