India's determination to secure its borders was evident in Doklam: Bhagwat

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said India has demonstrated its strong determination to protect its borders from the activities of "Pakistan on the Western front and that of China on the Northern front" thereby attaining new heights in diplomacy and security.

Speaking on the occasion of Dussehra, Bhagwat praised the Centre for handling the Doklam issue diplomatically and said that it had helped India to attain new heights of diplomacy in the international arena.

"India has demonstrated its strong determination to protect its borders in response to the activities of Pakistan on the Western front and that of China on the Northern front, Bhagwat said in his address in Nagpur.

Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a tense border stand-off for over two months at Doklam, near the Sikkim-Tibet-Bhutan tri-junction, but on the afternoon of August 28, both China and India agreed for expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the face-off site.

"Bharat's strong and determined stand has been visible in incidents like Doklam, on the borders as well as in international diplomacy. This definitely makes us realise about our strength, and at the same time, provides new international standing to Bharat,"Bhagwat added.

Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar had said that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas as a prerequisite for further development of relations between the two countries.

"Peace and tranquility in the border areas was a prerequisite for our relationship and there should be more efforts to enhance the level of mutual trust between the two sides", Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar told.

Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart L. K. Advani, Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also attended the Vijayadashami rally organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).

Hailing the security forces, Bhagwat said, "the determination with which terrorist infiltration and firing from across the border is being dealt with is highly commendable and the ruling BJP government is giving a fitting reply to infiltration by giving fredom to the security forces to do their duty."

"The provocative actions, propaganda and subversive activities of the separatist elements are being curbed by closing off their illegal economic resources and exposing their links with anti-national forces," Bhagwat declared.