CHANDIGARH: Apparently referring to the impact of social media on conflicts between nations, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh Friday said the scope of the mobile phone now it is larger than that of a missile.
Addressing the annual Military Literature Festival here, Singh cautioned that different types of security threats may emerge in the future.
“This event is important from another point of view,” he said via videoconference. “As times change, the nature of threats and wars is also changing. In the future, other security-related issues may arise before us.”
He added that conflicts are gradually becoming “wide” in ways never before imagined.
Possibly alluding to the power of social media and mobile applications, he said: “Today the range (marak Kshamta) of a mobile has even crossed the range of a missile,” he said.
He added that the enemy can now reach people even without crossing borders, urging everyone to play the role of soldiers.
“We must remain aware of these dangers and save ourselves from incorrect and misleading information and save others as well, and festivals like this can play a key role in this,” he said, urging literary figures to make the most of their talents. .
The defense minister did not refer specifically to China.
But in recent months, since the clash between the two sides began on the Royal Line of Control, India has banned several Chinese mobile apps, citing concerns related to national security and privacy.
These included the popular TikTok and WeChat apps.
Singh said this year’s edition of the festival was special as the country is marking 50 years of the 1971 India-Pakistan War.
The minister said that there are many veterans who fought that war and urged young people to learn from them. He asked them to follow in the footsteps of the soldiers who are living legends.
He said that the war games played on mobile phones did not match his real-life experiences.
Singh said he was scheduled to participate in last year’s MLF but was unable to come to Chandigarh due to a session of Parliament.
But he had kept me regularly updated on festival events, including book launches and panel discussions, the defense minister said.
“All these events give a close idea to people, especially young people, of military life,” he said.
He said the festival also gave ordinary people a better understanding of how the military works and instilled a patriotic spirit in the youth.
“Punjab for decades has been the land of the brave and it is natural for such festivals to start from here. The festival is also a tribute to those warriors who left everything for the good of the nation, ”he said.
Rajnath praised the wide range of topics chosen for MLF 2020, including Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan, self-reliance in defense and Bollywood, and expressed confidence that the platform would continue to deliver stimulating conversations of regional and national importance.
Earlier, Punjab Governor Vice President Singh Badnore He said events like the MLF highlight the history, values and traditions of the military that would otherwise never be known to the public.
“These events invite an overwhelming response from the people and it is truly a popular festival that is expected every year by the people of the region,” he said.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra previously said that a sense of secrecy surrounded defense-related issues, such as sharing war experiences and keeping documents that shed light on military matters out of the public eye.
But now the scene is changing and if this continues, the younger generation, particularly the cadets in the military academies, may be really inspired, he said.
The annual event, which is a joint initiative of the government of Punjab and the Armed Forces, ends on Sunday.
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