India has never considered war first option but last resort; we believe in peace: PM Modi
Kargil (PTI): India has always viewed war as the last resort, but the armed forces have the strength and strategies to give a befitting reply to anyone who casts an evil eye on the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.
Addressing the armed forces here on Diwali, the prime minister also recalled his visit to this frontier region in the aftermath of the Kargil conflict in 1999 when the Indian military had "crushed the hood of terror".
"There has not been a single war with Pakistan when Kargil has not flown the victory flag," he said adding that Diwali symbolised the "celebration of the end of terror".
"I have witnessed the Kargil war closely. It was my duty that had brought me to Kargil back then. There are many memories of that time when the sounds of victory were reverberating all around," Modi said, continuing with the tradition set by him to celebrate Diwali at the country's frontiers.
"In Kargil, our armed forces had crushed the hood of terror and people still remember the Diwali that was celebrated back then," he said.
He said over the last eight years, the government has worked on implementing reforms in the armed forces by deploying new technologies, developing infrastructure in border areas and opening up positions for women in the forces.
"The induction of women in the armed forces will boost our strength," Modi said and added that reforms in the armed forces that were required for decades are now being implemented.
The prime minister said a nation is safe when its borders are secure, economy strong and society full of confidence.
India has been dealing with its enemies, both external and internal, with force, Modi said and recounted the steps taken to "uproot" the "terror, naxalism and extremism" from within the country.
He said India has never viewed war as the first option. "We have always seen war as the final resort. We are in favour of global peace.. But peace cannot be achieved without strength," Modi said.
"Our armed forces have the strategies as well as the strength. If anyone dares cast an evil eye on us, our three armed forces know very well how to give a befitting reply," the prime minister said.
Prime Minister Modi also said that 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' most important to the nation's security and the country's dependence should be minimal on foreign weapons and systems.
Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has been visiting different military facilities to celebrate Diwali.
#WATCH | We've never viewed war as first option...Be it the war in Lanka or Kurukshetra, we tried till last to postpone it. We're against war but peace can't be there without strength. If anyone dares to look at us with evil eyes, our armed forces will give a befitting reply: PM pic.twitter.com/pW4O79KpMT
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2022
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Committed to realise dreams of people; Appointments on 48K posts soon: Hemant Soren on Republic Day
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Dumka (PTI): Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said on Sunday that he was committed to realising the dreams of people who "scripted history" by voting to power the alliance he leads for a second term.
Unfurling the Tricolour at Dumka Police Line on Republic Day, Soren said his government fulfilled its promise and 56 lakh women in the age group of 18-50 were receiving assistance of Rs 2,500 per month under 'Maiyan Samman Yojna' while the process is on for recruitment on 48,000 posts soon.
"To wage war against injustice and atrocities has been our tradition. History is witness to how even before 1857 tribals here fought for Independence. Their struggle is our source of inspiration," he said.
Soren said his government was working in a planned manner to ensure that the tribals oppressed for centuries get their dues and the state could move forward on the path of development.
"The process of recruitment in the state has been expedited...The list for appointments on 48,000 posts has been sent to Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission...Advertisements have been released for 46,000 posts while appointments have been done on 5,000 posts. The process for appointment on 28,000 posts is in the last leg," Soren said.
To aid youth to attain self-reliance, loans to the tune of Rs 438 crore have been distributed among 7,625 youth under 'Mukhyamantri Rojgar Srijan Yojna' in 2024-25 while about 5 lakh youth were imparted skill training under 'Mukhyamantri Sarathi Yojna', he said, adding that over 2 lakh trained youth have got job offers.
Besides to arrest migration, Rs 2,430 crore have been distributed among youth under MNREGA and 2.66 lakh 'Sakhi Mandal' (women self help groups) have been provided bank credit linkages, he said.
Soren added that under the Palash brand - an initiative to empower women, 47 marts have been opened to provide a platform to sell products made by women and it has earned them national recognition.
"To accelerate industrial development, Jharkhand has notified Jharkhand Industrial Park and Logistic Policy and is striving to become a 'land-linked state' from 'land-locked state'", Soren asserted while stating that it has also been decided to provide 40 per cent subsidy to MSME units in the state.
Apart from promoting Tasar cultivation of which Jharkhand is a leading producer, the Jharkhand government is making all efforts to promote education and is operating '80 CM Schools of Excellence' for providing education on par with private institutions to rural students, he said and claimed that 4,041 panchayat level schools will be developed as model schools in the state in the next three years.
Besides under 'Guruji Student Credit Card Scheme', Rs 40 crore educational loans have been provided to 650 students who were not able to pursue academics after 12th standard due to financial hurdles.
Soren also listed various educational schemes for students including the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda scholarship to provide assistance to students of SC/ST and backward communities to pursue their higher education dreams abroad.
For the benefit of farmers, the government waived Rs 403 crore agriculture loans of 1.82 lakh farmers under 'Jharkhand Krishi Rin Mafi Yojna', he said and added under Millet Mission, the government was providing Rs 3,000 per acre to farmers up to 5 acres of land for cultivation of such crops.
For health, under Mukhyamantri Abua Swasthya Yojna, Rs 15 lakh is being provided per family for treatment besides various other initiatives.
Soren said to augment infrastructure, 89 highways and 9 bridges completed at an expenditure of Rs 2,796 crore were inaugurated in the state in the ongoing fiscal while drinking water connectivity was ensured to 34.17 lakh of 62.55 lakh rural families.
He claimed that 41 lakh electric consumers in the state were getting 200 units of electricity free per month.
Also, he claimed that the forest cover in the state has increased to 34 per cent of the total geographic area and a number of initiatives are on to promote tourism including eco-tourism in the state.
He said his government was committed to fulfil the dream of a prosperous Jharkhand.
