India’s sovereignty is biggest priority: PM Modi

“The commitment shown by our brave soldiers, what the country can do, that has been seen by the world in Ladakh,” Modi said in a pointed reference to the Galwan clash.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Red Fort in New Delhi, on Saturday. (PTI)

Without mentioning either China or Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday underlined that India has given a befitting response to those who challenge India’s sovereignty. This comes two months after the Galwan incident in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed in eastern Ladakh LAC in violent clashes between Indian and Chinese troops.

He said India’s sovereignty is its biggest priority and the Indian soldiers have shown that what the soldiers can do. “The commitment shown by our brave soldiers, what the country can do, that has been seen by the world in Ladakh,” he said in a pointed reference to the Galwan clash.

“Those who challenge India’s sovereignty, be it LoC or LAC, have been given a befitting reply in their own language. What India can do, the world has seen it in Ladakh.”

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At the same time, PM Modi also called for cooperation within the countries in South Asia since it is home to one-fourth of the world’s population.

He said their “cooperation” and “partnership” can provide a lot of opportunities for the people in South Asia.

The Prime Minister also said that it is the responsibility of all the leaders in the South Asian region to work for the progress and development of the people in the region.

He also said that with India’s neighbours, whether they share land borders or maritime borders, India is connected through security, development and trust.

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He also brought in the theme of “expansionism” while talking about imperialism and colonialism back in the 20th century.

Shubhajit Roy

Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism ‘2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury’s special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban’s capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read More

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