Moral support, not weapons, is strength of our Army: Modi

He was extolling Army's virtues after inaugurating the 'Shaurya Smarak' (war memorial) in Bhopal

"Army does not speak, it acts. Respect the jawans, Army does not need weapons but citizens of a country must rally behind Army to give moral support and people must be awake." This is how Prime Minister Narendra Modi today tried to express himself in Bhopal after facing a long volley of questions over surgical strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.  

Expressing his situation over his silence during the recent past Prime Minister Narendra Modi said when he talked about Army that it did not believe in speaking but in action he faced criticism.

"The critics would say Modi is sleeping and is doing nothing. Our Army does not speak but displays its valour. So does our defense minister," he said here on Friday Lal Pared ground during his three-hour visit on Friday, ahead of the BRICS meet in Goa.

While addressing a gathering of ex-servicemen before inaugural of the newly-built war memorial (Shaurya Samarak) at a different location near state secretariat, the Prime Minister said, “Many would not know that Indian Army is considered among top armies of the world in performing different roles for serving mankind. Our army is recognised among top armies on various parameters including ethics, values and duty. Army does not mean uniform, weapon and flare in eyes looking for enemies." He cited few examples to corroborate what he said, "During heavy floods in Srinagar, our armypersons rescued all who were in peril, they never think that they were the same people who pelt stones at them. It is humanity that inspired them. Similarly many armypersons did supreme sacrifice while saving lives of those country people who were in trouble in Kedarnath tragedy. When we think of armed forces, we remember their bravery and also their role during a natural disaster but we should know that they serve the nation in many ways."

He appealed to the people to trigger a trend of respecting people at common places like airport, railway stations by applauding the service men and security forces whenever they see them.

“In various countries, whenever people see jawans at airports or railway stations, they stand up and applause in respect, this is not happening in our country. We should also adopt such practice, this would instigate a different feeling in our jawans,” he added.
 

Highlighting Indian Army's valour in rescue and relief operations in Yemen, the prime minister said, “While rescuing Indians in Yemen, Indian army also rescued a few Pakistanis, this is the example of humanity of our Indian army. One may be surprised to know that ours is a nation with the biggest contributors to the UN peacekeeping forces. Many may not know that as many as one-and-a-half lakh soldiers of Indian Army laid lives in First and Second World Wars.”

Lambasting the previous governments over One Rank One Pension, Modi said the previous governments made just hollow promises "but when our government came to power we fulfilled our promise and implemented it”.

While exhorting citizens to stay awake he said: "It would be injustice to our Army, BSF, CRPF, Coast Guard jawans who sacrifice their lives so that we can sleep fearlessly and peacefully. But it would be grave injustice to them if we keep sleeping even when we need to be awake. So, we should stay vigilant and awake."

On Army's strengths Modi said, "Weapons are not Army's strength but it draws its strength from the support of more than one hundred billion people. No technology or arms can beat the power of motivation."

He also inaugurated the newly built war memorial "Shaurya Samarak" here and laid emphasis upon the major role played by the security forces in the protection of the country and said "it should be an open institute for many to understand our army that would inspire our youth to join the army".

He also announced that the government has decided to give skill development training to soldiers in last year of their service so that they do not have to struggle for jobs. "They should emerge out from their services with pride and dignity. They will now train others than looking for jobs post retirement," he said.