The defense minister made the remarks after performing “Shastra Puja” – the cult accustomed to weapons – at the Sukna headquarters of the Indian army33 Corps in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal on the occasion of Dussehra.
The defense minister was scheduled to hold the bid in Sherathang, a high-altitude border area near the Royal Line of Control (LAC) with China in Sikkim, but was unable to go there due to inclement weather, authorities said.
West Bengal: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh performs ‘Shastra Puja’ at the Sukna War Memorial in Darjeeling. Chi Army… https://t.co/MeiHrEz9Ya
– ANI (@ANI) 1603597923000
“India wants to end the current border tension with China and restore peace. This is our goal. But sometimes some dire incidents keep happening. I am very confident that our soldiers will never allow even an inch of our land carried by anyone, “Singh said after making the” puja. ”
The Army Chief of Staff, General MM Naravane, and several senior Army commanders were present on the occasion when the Defense Minister carried out the “bid” at the key military base, which is responsible for protecting the LAC in the sector. by Sikkim.
After bidding, Singh inaugurated a new road in Sikkim via video conference from Sukna.
“I can say with confidence and on the basis of concrete information that the courage and actions of the Indian soldiers during whatever happened on the border between India and China in Ladakh will be written in letters of gold by historians,” he said. the minister without giving further details. .
Twenty Indian soldiers gave their lives as they bravely fought a group of Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh on June 15, an incident that had significantly intensified border tension between the two countries.
China has not yet disclosed the number of soldiers killed and wounded in the clash, although it has officially admitted to having suffered casualties. According to Indian officials, China suffered “heavy casualties” in the incident.
Indian troops also occupied several strategic heights in the mountainous areas of Mukhpari, Rezang La, and Magar around the southern shore of Lake Pangong in eastern Ladakh, after the Chinese military attempted to intimidate them in the area on the night of August 29. and 30.
The two sides held a series of diplomatic and military talks to resolve the dispute that began on May 5, following a violent clash in eastern Ladakh. However, no progress has been made to end the confrontation.
The Defense Minister’s “Shastra Puja” at the strategically important military base was a message to India’s adversaries, a military official said.
Singh has been performing “Shastra Puja” during Dussehra for the past few years, including during his tenure as Union Minister of the Interior in the previous NDA government.
Almost all Indian army formations throughout LAC are on a very high alert level in view of the border row with China in eastern Ladakh.
The defense minister arrived at the Sukna headquarters of the 33rd Corps on Saturday.
In a speech to a group of soldiers at the base Saturday night, Singh said that India always tried to maintain good relations with its neighbors, but that from time to time situations arose where its armed forces had to make supreme sacrifices. to protect sovereignty and territoriality. integrity of the country.
The defense minister also reviewed the Army’s combat readiness during a high-level meeting at the military base.
The Army has significantly reinforced the deployment of troops and weapons throughout the nearly 3,500 km of LAC, including in Sikkim and Arunachal pradesh sectors.
.
