New Delhi, May 11 (PTI): There is a new normal in India's response to cross-border terrorism, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructing the armed forces that the country's response to every action by Pakistan should be more forceful, government sources said on Sunday.
Following Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Modi told the armed forces that bullets must be responded to by artillery (Wahan se goli chalegi, toh yahan se gola chalega), the sources said.
They said Operation Sindoor is not concluded and there is a new normal in India's response to cross-border terrorism. The cost of cross-border terrorism will be raised, and Pakistan can't continue with terrorism while expecting cooperation in areas of its choosing.
They also said that India will never accept mediation in the Kashmir issue and the only matter to discuss is Pakistan returning the territory which is under its illegal occupation
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Saturday evening announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect, after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
The development was first announced by US President Donald Trump, who claimed that the two countries had agreed to a "full and immediate ceasefire" after US mediation.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was "pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site".
The only matter related to Kashmir to discuss is Pakistan returning territory under its illegal occupation, Government sources asserted on Sunday.
They made it clear that the Indus Waters Treaty will be in abeyance as long as terrorism sponsored by Pakistan against India continues.
Only talks with Pakistan will be through the Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs). There is no other issue to discuss, the sources said.
India's position after the May 7 strikes on terror infrastructure was that if Pakistan fires, India will respond more forcefully, they said, adding it was the Pakistani DGMO who reached out to the Indian DGMO on May 10 to de-escalate situation
After the Pahalgam attack, India had told countries that reached out to New Delhi it would hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan territories.
After the May 7 strikes, every Pakistani action was dealt with very firmly, the sources said.
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Panaji (PTI): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has invoked the "cooperative federalism" principle while targeting the Karnataka government amid the Mhadei river water sharing dispute between the two states.
"They (Karnataka) speak about stopping the supply of vegetables or tourism inflow (to Goa). We never use such language. India can go forward with cooperative federalism. We are Indians first and Goans later," the chief minister told the legislative assembly on Friday after opposition leader Yuri Alemao claimed that Karnataka had threatened to stop vegetable supplies to Goa.
Goa and Karnataka are embroiled in a dispute over sharing the Mhadei river water. The BJP-ruled Goa has accused the Congress-governed Karnataka of planning to divert the river water by constructing two dams.
Sawant had said that the Goa government would file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka for carrying out activities that are aimed at diverting the Mhadei river water.
After the House passed the demands for grants for agriculture, Sawant said Goa has reduced the horticulture import by 30-40 per cent, whereas horticulture commodities' export has gone up by 20 per cent.
He stated that the state-run Horticulture Corporation has been procuring vegetables and fruits from farmers in various states and selling them through stalls.
The chief minister mentioned about a young farmer, Varad Samant, who has been providing vegetables of Rs 50 lakh every year to the state horticulture department.
"I have met this young farmer who is in his 30s. He told me that he earns a net 60 per cent profit from the vegetable supply business," Sawant said.
He said the government has focused on the agriculture sector. Citing the Swayampurna Goa Scheme, he said millet production is being boosted.
Referring to the demands of the Opposition, the chief minister said, rather than increasing support price for various products, the government is contemplating the possibility of providing a hundred per cent subsidy to farmers involved in community farming.
"65,500 farmers are registered with the department. They are eligible for facilities like Krishi card and Kissan credit card. They can now walk into the bank and avail of loan up to Rs 1 lakh. If any bank refuses to lend, tell me. Because the guarantee of your loan is PM Modi's guarantee," he added.