Don't dare to harm India, Modi warns country's enemies

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned nation's enemies of "befitting reply" from the Army if they attempt to ruin peace and progress of the country.

While India fiercely believed in peace, it would not compromise with its honour and sovereignty at any cost, Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

Modi's remarks came in his 48th episode of monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', a day after India celebrated the second anniversary of the 2016 surgical strike by the Army on terrorist hubs in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Recalling the surgical strike as a reply to the "audacity of a proxy war under the garb of terrorism", Modi said: "We have never eyed someone else's territory maliciously. This in itself was our commitment and dedication towards peace.”

"Even today, India is one of the largest contributors to various UN Peace Keeping forces in terms of sending personnel. For decades, our brave soldiers wearing blue helmets have played a stellar role in ensuring maintenance of world peace."

"India has always been resolutely committed to peace. In the two World Wars, over a lakh of our soldiers made the supreme sacrifice; that too in a war where we were not involved in any way.”

Modi's attack came a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, speaking at the UN General Assembly, denounced Pakistan for its continued support to terrorism on Indian soil and blamed Islamabad for sabotaging the bilateral talks process.

New Delhi on September 21 called off talks by Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan, blaming Islamabad for the killing of security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir and accusing it of glorifying terrorism.

Modi said that remembering the surgical strikes will remind "our youths about the glorious heritage and valour of our armed forces.”

The Prime Minister called the Indian Air Force (IAF) one of the "mightiest and bravest" air forces and hailed its contribution both during wars and natural disasters.

"Be it the relief and rescue work or disaster management, our country is indebted to our Air Force for the commendable efforts of our Air Warrior," he said, mentioning its role during the 1947-48, 1965, 1971 and 1999 wars.