Those doubting armed forces are helping Pak: PM attacks political parties

Chennai: Targeting the opposition parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that those doubting the armed forces and his government's fight against terrorism are helping Pakistan and harming the country.

Without naming any political party, PM Modi said, "Modi will come and go, India will remain."

Addressing a public meeting here, the prime minister also hailed Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, saying every Indian was proud of him. "Every Indian is proud that the brave wing commander Abhinandan belongs to Tamil Nadu," he said after inaugurating several government projects in the Rail and Road sectors.

In a direct message to Pakistan, PM Modi declared that India will no longer be "helpless" in the face of terror and said that 'New India' will pay back terrorists with 'interest' and that their influence has been curtailed and will be curbed further.

Modi said he is proud that India's first woman Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is from Tamil Nadu

Reiterating his government's resolve against terrorism by retaliation, Modi slammed the previous Congress-led UPA government for not following such aggressive tactics and accused it of "blocking" surgical strikes post 26/11 Mumbai attacks in November 2008

The country has been facing the menace of terrorism for years "but there is a big difference now..India will no longer be helpless in the face of terror," Modi said

"This is a New India, this is an India that will return the damage done by terrorists with interest," he said, adding, "influence of terrorists and terrorism is curtailed and is going to be curtailed even more."

The events of the past two days, an apparent reference to IAF's air strikes on a JeM terror camp inside Pakistan and the IAF shooting down a Pakistan jet, have demonstrated yet again the strengths of the country's armed forces, he said

However, he said, it was sad that a few political parties "suspect our fight against terror."

When the entire nation supports the country's armed forces, they "suspect the armed forces," he said

"These are the same people whose statements are helping Pakistan and harming India. They are the same people whose statements are happily quoted in the Parliament of Pakistan and in the radio of Pakistan," Modi said

"They should clarify- do they believe our armed forces or they believe those forces who support terrorism on our soil? I want to tell them- Modi will come and go, India will remain. Please stop weakening India to strengthen your own politics," he said.

"We are Indians first and your politics can wait...it is the safety of our nation that is at stake," the prime minister said

A state wide protest was launched ahead of PM Modi’s visit by the MDMK. The party general secretary said that party workers will show him black flags for not visiting the regions affected during the Gaja cyclone last year. Andhra Pradesh’s ruling TDP has also announced to boycott PM Modi’s proposed visit to Visakhapatnam slated on Friday.