Modi reviews security situation, operational readiness
*Challenges from China, Pak figure at 3-day meet
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called upon the three Services to stay ready to deal with new and emerging threats and emphasized that all steps are being taken to equip the Armed Force with necessary weapons and technologies.
He was interacting with top Defence Commanders on concluding day of three days Combined Commanders Conference at Bhopal.
An official statement said the Prime Minister reviewed the security situation and operational readiness of the Armed Forces during the valedictory session of the Combined Commanders’ Conference 2023 in Bhopal
“The Prime Minister was briefed by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan about various discussions conducted during this year’s conference,” the statement said.
It is learnt that India’s security challenges along the frontier with China and ways to deal with cross-border terrorism from Pakistan were among the key issues that figured at the annual Combined Commanders’ Conference.
Modi complimented the Armed Forces for their role in nation building and providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) assistance to friendly countries.
“During the final day of the session, various topics including aspects of digitization; cyber security; challenges of social media; Aatmanirbharta; absorption of Agniveers and jointness were discussed,” the statement said.
In a significant development from the past, the scope of the conference was expanded this year, wherein, a few multi-layered and interactive sessions were conducted with participation of soldiers from every command of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, including the Tri-Services Andaman and Nicobar Command.
“The three-day conference of combined apex-level military leadership of the country commenced on March 30 with the theme ‘Ready, Resurgent, Relevant’. During the conference, deliberations over a varied spectrum of issues were held, including on national security and evolving a Joint Military Vision for the future,” the statement added.
It said yesterday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacted with the top military brass and reviewed the defence preparedness.
Rajnath lauded the Armed Forces for their valuable contribution in protecting national interests and providing support to the Government in realizing its vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
This year’s conference was special, wherein, inputs from the field units were sought on contemporary issues like changes in TTP and way forward for greater integration among the three Services.
“These inputs were deliberated in detail by the Military Commanders. The conference also provided an opportunity for the Commanders to review the modernization of the Armed Forces and the ongoing & concluded military operations, while also discussing ways to improve the country’s defence capabilities,” the statement said.
As per the officials, situation along India’s frontiers with China and Pakistan also came up for high-level review.
The Conference which started on March 30 concluded this evening.
The Prime Minister interacted with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh , Chief of Defence Staff (CDA) Gen Anil Chauhan, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Army chief Gen Manoj Pandey, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and senior Defence Commanders.
Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar had to leave the Conference midway after testing positive for COVID-19.
Northern Command chief Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi also attended the Conference.
The Northern Command covers entire area of Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh where Sino-Indian troops are engaged in eyeball-to-eyeball position for last about three years now though disengagement has taken place from many friction points. It also looks after Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region and Baramulla and Kupwara district in Kashmir.
The Northern Command troops are also engaged in anti-militancy operations across Jammu and Kashmir mainly the Valley where several militants including top commanders of various outfits have been eliminated.
However, Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts in Jammu region fall under the Western Command though the International Border is being guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF).
PTI adds: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said some people are hellbent to sully his image and they have given a “supari” (contract) for this purpose colluding with certain people sitting in India and also outside the country.
Modi’s veiled attack on Congress comes amid a slugfest between the Grand Old Party and BJP over Rahul Gandhi’s “democracy under brutal attack in India” remarks in the UK and Germany taking note of Rahul’s disqualification from Lok Sabha. The BJP has accused the Congress of “inviting foreign powers” for interfering in India’s internal matters.
The Prime Minister was addressing a gathering at Rani Kamalapati railway station after flagging off the semi-high-speed Bhopal-Delhi Vande Bharat Express train in Bhopal.
“There are some people in our country who have been determined since 2014, spoken publicly and declared their resolve that they will tarnish Modi’s image. For this, they have given ‘supari’ (contract) to various people.
“Some people are sitting inside the country to support these people and some are doing their work sitting outside the country. These people have been continuously trying to spoil and tarnish Modi’s image,” he said.
But India’s poor, the middle class, tribals, Dalits, backward classes and every Indian has become the security cover of Modi, which made these people furious forcing them to adopt new tricks, he said.
Modi said such people have taken a pledge that “Modi Teri Kabra Khudegi”.
“Amidst their conspiracies, every countryman has to pay attention to the development of the country and pay attention to building the nation,” he said.
Slamming Congress without taking its name, Modi said previous Governments were busy with vote bank appeasement whereas his Government is busy satisfying people.
“They (the previous Governments) considered one family as the first family of the country. They ignored the poor and middle class, and the Railway is a living example of this (ignorance),” he said.
The Prime Minister also expressed deep grief over the stepwell roof collapse tragedy in a temple in Indore which killed 36 people and injured 16 on Ram Navami.
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