The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today addressed a gathering at Bhopal, and inaugurated the Shaurya Smaarak. Ex-servicemen were present in large numbers at the public meeting.
The Prime Minister said India's soldiers are a symbol of humanity. He recalled how the jawans of the Indian Armed Forces put their lives on the line whenever there is a natural disaster.
He said the Indian Armed Forces rank among the best in the world on parameters such as discipline and conduct. India is one of the foremost contributors to peace keeping forces worldwide, he added. He recalled that during the recent crisis in Yemen, the Indian Armed Forces had evacuated not just thousands of Indian citizens, but citizens of other nations as well.
Noting that Indians had never coveted territories of other nations, the Prime Minister emphasized that when the time came to protect human values, the Indian Armed Forces never failed to rise to the occasion. He recalled that the World Wars were not India's wars, but so many Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives defending foreign lands. He said we must not forget, and we should also make sure that the world does not forget, these sacrifices made by the jawans. He said the strength of the Indian Armed Forces is the morale of its jawans, which comes from the support of 125 crore Indians.
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, the Prime Minister said, appreciating the valour of the jawans guarding the nation's borders.
The Prime Minister quoted Hindi poets Makhanlal Chaturvedi and Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, praising the glorious traditions of sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces.
The Prime Minister said the Union Government had fulfilled its promise of One Rank, One Pension, and outlined other measures being taken for the welfare of ex-servicemen.
When we think of our armed forces we remember their valour. We also recall with pride their role during a natural disaster: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 14, 2016
It is the call of humanity that inspires our armed forces when they are helping people during natural disasters. Nothing else matters: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 14, 2016
It is the call of humanity that inspires our armed forces when they are helping people during natural disasters. Nothing else matters: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 14, 2016
India is one of the biggest contributors to the UN peacekeeping forces: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 14, 2016
It was our soldiers who played a key role in rescuing people from Yemen. Those rescued were not only Indians but also from other nations: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 14, 2016
"हिंदुस्तान का इतिहास इस बात का गवाह है कि हमारे पूर्वजों ने किसी की एक इंच ज़मीन को अपना बनाने के लिए झगड़ा नहीं किया है।": प्रधानमंत्री pic.twitter.com/IO7pSvVr9L
— CMO Madhya Pradesh (@CMMadhyaPradesh) October 14, 2016
Several soldiers from India fought and were martyred during the two World Wars: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 14, 2016
"यहाँ गाँधी ऐसे ही पैदा नहीं होते, यहाँ बुद्ध ऐसे पैदा नहीं होते हैं। बल्कि हम सब मानवता के लिए जीते हैं।": प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/CI8hk50T1B
— CMO Madhya Pradesh (@CMMadhyaPradesh) October 14, 2016
The Shaurya Smarak is a Tirtha Sthan for us and for our coming generations: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 14, 2016
The demand for OROP was persisting for years. We had promised it will become a reality and this is exactly what happened: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 14, 2016
