Didn’t let China intrude into India’s territory: Rajnath Singh

He said the armed forces were being equipped with the latest weapons and technology, and were ready to deal with all future threats

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the unveiling of a statue of renowned Marwari warrior Veer Durgadas Rathore, in Jodhpur, on Aug. 13, 2022. | Photo Credit: PTI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said India did not let China enter its territory and appealed to political parties not to politicise issues related to the country's security.

Whatever are the comments and beliefs, India did not let anybody trespass on its territory, he said.

The government has accorded top priority to the safety and security of people of India, Mr. Rajnath said stressing that a befitting reply would be given to anyone who tried to disturb the country’s peace and harmony.

"Many incidents happened in this matter, which only we two-three people know. I cannot divulge those details but we did not let them infiltrate into our territory," he said.

Mr. Rajnath appealed to the political parties not to politicise the issue.

He said the armed forces were being equipped with the latest weapons and technology, and they were ready to deal with all future threats.

Self-reliance in defence production

Underlining the importance of achieving self-reliance in defence production to build a strong military, he said his Ministry had undertaken a number of reforms to manufacture indigenous weapons.

"Due to the measures taken by the government in the past few years, India has leapfrogged to find a place among the top 25 defence exporters of the world. By the end of this decade, India will not only make defence equipment for itself but also fulfil needs of friendly foreign countries," he said.

Mr. Rajnath said the BJP practises what it preaches as he unveiled a statue of a Rajput general of the Mughal era here.

"It is said that there is a difference between what politicians say and do," Mr. Rajnath said unveiling the statue of Veer Durgadas Rathore at Salvan Kalan village of Jodhpur, on the Rajput general’s 385th birth anniversary.

"But the BJP does what it says. We get this inspiration from sons of the soil like Veer Durgadas Rathore," Mr. Rajnath said in his address.

`Statue stands for religious harmony’

Praising the installation of the statue, Mr. Rajnath said Mr. Rathore stood for religious harmony.

"We need to learn from him at a time when some powers are conspiring to widen the rift between Hindus and Muslims," he said.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Rajnath was received by Union Jal Shakti Mantri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Rajya Sabha MP Rajendra Gehlot and other BJP leaders at the airport here.