LUCKNOW, Oct 9:
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said problems created by Pakistan were coming in the way of improving bilateral relations though India has been asserting that “our hearts should meet”.
The Home Minister said it was an irony that from time to time Pakistan created problems. “I am not levelling a direct allegation, but may be in a bid to distract attention of its people from internal problems, some other persons are doing such acts (terror),” he said.
“But the problems persist,” he said during felicitation function of senior citizens on the occasion of 75th birth anniversary of veteran leader D P Bora here.
“Our senior leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that we should accept the reality that friends change in life, but not the neighbours, and we should maintain good ties with them,” Singh said.
“I want to assure you that the exercise to improve relationship with neighbouring countries started from the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi and we took oath,” he said.
Modi’s oath-taking ceremony was an example in which heads of all the neighbouring countries were invited, he said.
“We not only extended hand of friendship, but we intended that our hearts should meet,” Singh said.
Singh said that after taking charge of Home Ministry, one day DG BSF telephoned him to inform that Pakistani Rangers had killed five Indian citizens.
“I asked him what our forces have done. He replied that we waved white flags, which meant we want to hold talks and have a flag meeting. It was extreme limit of tolerance,” he said.
Singh said, “It was not acceptable to us that Pakistan kills our innocent citizens and we remain mum. At that time, I told him to take people to safe place and first bullet should not be fired from our side.
“But a befitting reply should be given if firing takes place from the other side.”
“After that, what happened you all know. Pakistan has to take shelter of the United Nations. Our Army or para-military forces are securing the boundaries with alertness,” he said.
Singh said the North-Eastern region was also disturbed because of insurgency.
“Naxalism too is a big challenge. After taking over as the Home Minister, the first appeal I made was that I was ready to talk to them provided first they surrender their arms,” he said.
Singh said in a healthy democracy if anyone resorts to violence, then he would not be tolerated. He asserted that many matters have come under control.
“Every year, 13 lakh cows were smuggled from India to Bangladesh. I am happy to share with you that the number has come down to around 2.5 lakh. Our effort is that it is checked completely,” he said.
The Home Minister said he wanted to assure that the Government was making efforts with all its might to ensure security of the country.
“I am associated with a ministry where I cannot discuss things very openly, my work is to execute the responsibility. Here I can assure you that we will not allow any harm to your honour, respect and security,” he said.
Taking up the issue of nuclear families, he said with the breaking of traditions the place of senior citizens in families was getting limited.
“We should take it as a challenge. The greatest uniqueness of Indian culture is humbleness, courtesy and respect towards parents,” he said.
Singh said these values were being now being accepted even by the developed countries.
“The faith towards Indian culture is increasing globally. I want to give an example that a foreign columnist said the manner in which attraction towards family institution was increasing, it seems we all are becoming Indian,” he said.
Singh said that the biggest problem before senior citizen was socio-economic.
“I am grateful to those who framed Constitution and made provision of socio-economic security for senior citizens. Touching feet of parents gives such an immense satisfaction, which cannot be explained in words,” he said. (PTI)
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