It is soldiers, not politicians who should now talk: Modi

Modi on Thursday was in Maharashtra’s Baramati campaigning for BJP ahead of upcoming Assembly elections.

While delivering speech, PM said, "I am surprised that people saying there is tension on the border and Modi is in Maharashtra."

Dismissing opposition’s claims he said, when the borders are tense, it is the soldiers, not the politicians who should do the talking.

Modi said, "During times of attrition on the border, the statements of politicians are immaterial. For it is a time when "the bullets of soldiers fly and the screams of the enemy is audible. I congratulate the soldiers that they have given a demonstration of their capability".

He took a dig at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar by saying, when he was Defence minister (in the early 1990s) "then too China and Pakistan did not stop their attacks" and asked if he (Pawar) had gone to the border.

It may be noted that, Baramati is the election turf of Pawar.

Not only opposition, Modi on Thursday at the same time gave a strong message to Pakistan also.

PM said, Indian soldiers have given a demonstration of their capability and their bravery.

He said, "Now old habits are of no use, the soldiers have given an introduction of their bravery, and they (enemy) have come to realize that the times have changed; and old times and habits have changed. Our brave soldiers have given the correct reply, and these matters should not be politicized," the prime minister said. 

PM’s comments came in the backdrop that India summoned Pak Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a strong protest over ceasefire violations by Pak forces.

Earlier in the morning, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley led a severe attack on Pakistan saying Pakistan will not be able to bear the cost of this "adventurism" if it persists with such "unprovoked" aggression.

"If Pakistan persists with this adventurism, our forces will make the cost of this adventurism unafforable," Defence Minister Arun Jaitley is reported to have told reporters.

After some time Pakistan shot back by saying that Pakistan is fully capable to respond to any Indian aggression.

According to a statement released by his office, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said, "We don't want to convert border tension between two nuclear neighbors into confrontation."

Eight civilians have died and more than 50 have been injured in India due to unprovoked firing by Pak forces which started from Oct 1 targeting Indian posts and border hamlets.

More than 20,000 villagers have fled their homes near the border to escape the shelling that has damaged houses.

Pakistan Targeted 60 Indian Posts and three dozen villages near the 200-km International Border in Jammu and Kashmir with heavy mortar shelling and firing.

India retaliated by targeting 73 Pak posts with mortars and small arms.

Intelligence sources said India hit back by pounding 37 Pakistani posts that left about 15 dead and damaged several Pakistan Rangers outposts.