Narendra Modi in Rishikesh: PM repeats ‘ghar mein ghus kar…’ statement on fighting terrorism

Narendra Modi at Uttarakhand rally: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, April 11, asserted that there is a strong government at the Centre and under "this strong Modi government”, terrorists are being hit hard at their homes.

“Whenever we have had a weak government in the country, our enemies have taken advantage. Under this strong government, atankwaadiyon ko ghar mein ghus ke mara jata hai (our forces are killing terrorists on their own turf)," Modi said during a public rally in Uttarakhand's Rishikesh, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In 2019, amid a bitter political slug-fest over the Indian Air Force's air strikes on Pakistan, Modi had slammed the Opposition for labelling action to avenge the Pulwana attack as an electoral gimmick. Follow Live Updates on Lok Sabha elections 2024

“They are saying the airstrike was for electoral gains. Where there were elections when we carried out surgical strikes? Humara siddhant hai, hum ghar me ghus ke marenge (It is our principle to take the attack home),” Modi had said in Ahmedabad.

Sharing the plight of soldiers during the Congress regime, Modi said, “Under the Congress, soldiers lacked basic protective gear such as bulletproof jackets, leaving them vulnerable to enemy bullets. It's the BJP that prioritised their safety, providing Indian-made bulletproof jackets. Today, thanks to the BJP, India manufactures modern rifles, fighter planes, and aircraft carriers domestically. Unlike the weak Congress government, BJP has developed modern infrastructure along the borders, including roads and tunnels, ensuring security and progress.”

Despite its small size, Uttarakhand consistently ranks among the top 5 states in producing officers for the Indian Army each year. The state is home to two regiments of the Indian Army – the Garhwal Rifles and the Kumaon Rifles.

Recently, during a TV interview, defence minister Rajnath Singh said if terrorists try to disturb peace in India or carry out terror activities, a befitting response will be given and if they run away to Pakistan, India will enter the neighbouring country to kill them, referring to New Delhi's assertive approach to deal with cross-border terrorism.

The defence minister was responding to a question on a report by British newspaper "The Guardian" that claimed Indian intelligence agencies carried out assassinations of terrorists in Pakistan as part of an emboldened approach to national security after 2019.

"If terrorists from the neighbouring country try to disturb the peace in Bharat or try to carry out terror activities in Bharat, we will give them a befitting reply. (Koi bhi terrorist hamare parosi desh se yadi hamare Bharat ko disturb karneki koshish karega, yahan par yadi atankbadi harkate karega, toh uska muh tod jabab denge)," Singh told CNN News18.

"If they run away to Pakistan, we will enter Pakistan to kill them (Yadi woh bhag kar Pakistan mein jayega, toh Pakistan mein ghus kar marenge)," he said.

PM Modi on road, rail connectivity in Uttarakhand

Lauding his government for better infrastructure in Uttarakhand, Modi said, “We are continuously increasing rail, road and air connectivity in the state. Work is underway on the Rishikesh -Karanprayag railway line. Distance between Delhi and Dehradun is also reducing. Border villages, which were called 'last villages' under the Congress, are now being developed under the BJP government. Air services have started for Adi Kailash and Om Parvat. A 900-km-long highway is also being built to connect Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath.”

Addressing the crowd, the PM shared, “Yesterday I was in Tamil Nadu, situated on the ocean coast, at the southern end of India. There also people are saying –Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar! Today I am in the lap of the Himalayas, in the company of Baba Kedar and Badri Vishal. So here also the same echo - Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar!

Milestones under Modi govt

On the occasion, Modi also presented a glimpse of the milestones achieved by the BJP government over the past years that included the elimination of terrorists in their hideouts, the abolition of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir after seven decades, and the enactment of laws against triple talaq, addressing long-standing social issues.

"Additionally, the BJP government ensured women's representation by granting them reservation in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly, fostering inclusivity and gender equality in governance,” Modi said.

The PM also elaborated on the One Rank One Pension scheme and said, “It is Modi who has given more than ₹1 lakh crore to ex-servicemen by implementing OROP. Here in Uttarakhand too, military families have received more than ₹3.5 thousand crores.”