Tried to ensure minimum loss of lives, says Parrikar

“Can’t forget soldiers’ contribution in guarding borders”

PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday that during his tenure as Defence Minister, he always tried to ensure that minimum life was lost.

He was speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of the second edition of the JK Cement Swachh ability run here on Sunday.

Enemies were the target

Mr. Parrikar said he had instructed soldiers in the Indian Army to kill the enemy instead of getting killed. “Sacrificing everything for the country is a must, but that does not mean that when you go in fighting, you should get killed. Kill your enemies. That was the target,” he said.

“We cannot forget [the soldiers’] contribution in protecting our borders. As Defence Minister, I was trying to ensure that minimum lives are lost,” he said.

Mr. Parrikar said that he considered persons with disabilities to be a very important component of society.

“They can sometimes contribute more than the non-disabled. While they have a disadvantage in certain faculties, I have seen their abilities in some other faculties,” he said.