India is no more weak, has given free hand to forces to deal with Pakistan, terrorists: Rajnath

Bardoli, Gujarat, Oct 14: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said if first Prime Minister late Jawaharlal Nehru had given the responsibility of Kashmir to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, it would not have become an issue and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) too would have been included in India long ago. He warned Pakistan not to forget that the lax Congress dispensation at Delhi has now been replaced with resolute Modi government and its nefarious designs like sending terrorists, doing unprovoked firing across the border and interfering in India's affairs won't last for long. Mr Singh also said that the hands of the security forces which were sort of tied during the earlier government in dealing with terrorists and cross border firing, have now been opened and they have been given a free hand. Addressing an election rally in Bardoli, the Karmabhoomi of Sardar Patel, during the Gurarat Gaurav Yatra of ruling BJP, Mr Singh said, 'Had Nehru given the responsibility of merger of Kashmir also to Sardar Patel, It would not have been an issue at all today. Even the PoK would have been in India. Patel had made the Nizam of Hyderabad and Nawab of Junagadh to surrender and be a part of integrated India and he would have easily done so in case of Kashmir too but Nehru did not do so.' 'But we must not worry about Kashmir as it will be resolved and no power in the world would be able to come in its way,' he said. Hitting out at Pakistan, Mr Singh said, 'Our neighbour Pakistan whose name means 'holy' remains indulged in unholy things all the time. It sends terrorists to India from its soil to kill our jawans. But perhaps it has forgotten that now the government in Delhi was not of Congress but of Narendrabhai Modi. That is why you are seeing that the Army and other security forces have been given free hand in dealing with such terrorists and everyday terrorists were being killed like never before. The nefarious designs of Pakistan won't last for long.' ' One night in September 2014 just a few months after formation of our government I was told by the BSF DGP that during cross-border firing by Pakistan, they were instructed only to wave flag, requesting to stop firing. I was astonished and gave an standing order to give a befitting reply to Pakistan. 'Their hands were tied, we opened them and gave them a free hand. Now the standing order is though don't ever start firing but don't count the bullets either while retaliating. India is now no more a weak country. Even in case of Doklam stand-off with China, you have witnessed it. Earlier in 1962, we had a war with China and the result is known to everyone but today, the situation is not like that,' he said. Mr Singh also attacked Congress and its vice president Rahul Gandhi for questioning development in Gujarat and raising corruption issue. He said that the prince of corrupt Congress (Rahul) was unable to see the development in Gujarat which was not only being lauded in India but the whole world has accepted as a development model. 'The ministers of Congress regime were jailed for corruption charges. All across the world, its corruption and scams had become notorious. Today no one can level corruption charges on any of the ministers of Modi government. Even the government has taken many so-called unpopular measures to end corruption. We are not bothered about power. For us, the nation comes first and we want to do things that benefit the nation,' he said. He also took a jibe at Mr Gandhi for his temple visits in Gujarat saying he was remembering God at the time of election. Praising the then CM Narendra Modi lavishly for making Gujarat a model of development, he said that the state was at the top with regard to giving employment to tribal youths and women. 'Normally people change the government in 5 to 10 years but in Gujarat, the BJP was in power for 22 years and it was the testimony of its passing the test of people's aspirations,' he said. On the occasion, he also revealed a different kind of personal connection with Gujarat saying that the name of his mother is Gujarati Devi. He said that while his mother was Gujarati by name, a son of a Gujarati mother Narendra Modi was doing unprecedented work for India and increased its honour all over the world. UNI