BILASPUR, Aug 16:
India is giving a “befitting” reply to Pakistan, which is engaged in continuous ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said here today.
“Hum unhe muhtod jawab de rahen hai. Hamara response dugna-tiguna hai… (We are giving them (Pakistan) a befitting reply. Our response is double-triple (in intensity),” the Defence Minister said.
He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here organised by the ‘Vanvasi Vikas Samiti’- a Sangh Pariwar-backed organisation.
There were ceasefire violations by Pakistan in various sectors along the LoC in Poonch district for the eighth consecutive day. The intensified shelling on border posts and civilian areas in Poonch and Rajouri have claimed six lives during last two days, drawing strong protest from India.
Responding to a query on rising infiltration bids by insurgents along the International Border with Pakistan, Parrikar said the Government was putting up all measures to thwart such incidents.
“Owing to security reasons, I cannot furnish details on the issue but would surely like to tell that we are taking all the measures to foil infiltration bids,” he said.
On the last month’s terrorist attack in Punjab, wherein suspected Pakistani militants had entered India by crossing Ravi river, the Minister said, “It’s a bit difficult to do fencing along Ravi river. But keeping in view the security there, several electronic measures are being adopted (to guard the International Border).”
Eight persons, including an SP, were killed, in the strike launched by three terrorists before they were gunned down.
Asserting that the NDA Government was committed towards implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme as being demanded by ex-servicemen, Parrikar said the OROP-related anomalies will be sorted out soon.
“It is not needed for me to say anything on the issue (implementation of OROP) after Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s speech on Independence Day during which he spoken about OROP. However, difficulties related to OROP scheme will soon be sorted out and efforts are on in this direction,” he said.
In his speech yesterday, Modi had assured that the Government has “in-principle” accepted the demand for OROP and is working out the modalities. (PTI)
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