War never first, always our last resort, says PM

But Strength Must For Peace, He Tells Soldiers On Diwali

India stands for peace and has always considered war as not the first but last resort, but its 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 Monday.

Addressing soldiers here on Diwali, Modi said India is against war, but also underscored the need for strength to ensure peace and asserted that its growing power boosts the chances of global peace and prosperity.

The whole world is looking at India which is a “balancing force”, he told soldiers at the site of the forces’ heroic feats in the 1999 war. Modi also invoked the epics of Ramayan and Mahabharat to assert that it is in Indian tradition to avoid war, be it in Lanka or Kurukshetra, and the country stands for world peace.

The PM highlighted numerous measures taken by his government to boost economy and development, saying a country is safe only when its borders are secure, its economy robust and society full of self-confidence. The armed forces are pillars of India’s security, he added.

Noting that India has become the fifth-largest world economy from 10th in the last seven-eight years, Modi also spoke about the emergence of over 80,000 startups.