PM Modi seeks parliament’s unequivocal support for armed forces

NEW DELHI, Sep 14, 2020, ToI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before the start of the 18-day monsoon session of the parliament on Monday, said he believes that the parliament and its members will give an unequivocal message that the country stands with the soldiers strongly at a time when they are deployed on the borders under adverse circumstances, The Times of India reported.

“The current session of the parliament is distinct for another reason. Our soldiers are performing their duties on the borders with chivalry. They are deployed in inaccessible hilly areas where snowfall will also start soon,” Prime Minister said.

His remarks were apparently in reference to the forces deployed in eastern Ladakh region on Indian-China border where tension continues to persist.

Saying that the Indian soldiers are guarding the motherland with full strength and confidence, Prime Minister said, “Sadan ek swar se, ek bhavana se, ek Sankalp se yeh Sandesh dega ki sena ke jawano ke saath pura desh khada dai,” (the parliament will send a strong message in one voice and with one resolve that whole of the country stands with the armed forces.”

The Prime Minister’s appeal to the lawmakers to send the message in support of the armed forces has come at a time when the opposition parties have been demanding debate over ongoing tension on the India-China border.

However, the government has still not made it clear about the possibility of a discussion although sources have said that there will be a statement by defence minister Rajnath Singh on the subject.

The Prime Minister said the parliament session is beginning under unprecedented circumstances. “There’s Corona and there’s duty. However, all MPs chose the path of duty. I congratulate and express my gratitude to them. This time RS-LS will be held at different times in a day. It will be held on Saturday and Sunday too,” the PM said.

Urging people to continue maintaining social distancing and other measures in the wake of the Corona crisis, the PM said, “Jab tak dawai nahi tab tak koi dhilai nahi. We want that a vaccine be developed at the earliest from any corner of the world, our scientists succeed and we succeed in bringing everyone out of this problem.”

The Prime Minister said the budget session had to be curtailed due to the corona crisis, which makes the current session more important as several important decisions are to be taken.

“Intense and detailed discussions play an important role to understand any subject. I expect that we shall be able to add value to the great tradition of productive debates in the house,” the PM said.