NEW DELHI - Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India no more afraid of nuclear threats from Pakistan .
“Otherwise, Pakistan used to give nuclear threats. What do we have? Have we kept it for ‘Diwali’ (Warna aay din nuclear button hai, ye kehte the. Hamare paas kya hai. Ye diwali ke liye rakha hai kya)”, Modi commented.
He said Indian forces killed terrorists across the border without engaging in a war.
“This is called a strong government. We have created fear among terrorist,” the PM said.
India missed an “golden opportunity” to resolve Kashmir dispute during 1971 war when “under global pressure” it released hundreds of Pakistani troops who were in the custody of Indian army.
Speaking at an election rally here, Modi said then Congress government signed Shimla agreement (in 1972) “under global pressure” and released over 90,000 prisoners of war (PoW) instead of resolving the Kashmir dispute “in lieu of the PoW.” “Pak troops were in our custody. A big area of Pakistan was also captured by Indian forces during 1971 war but the Congress government lost it on table in Shimla agreement and they were released,” he said.
“The government crumbled under global pressure and signed the Shimla agreement and the matter was closed. PoW and the capture land were released. That was a golden opportunity to resolve the Kashmir dispute in lieu of the PoW,” he said.
The prime minister said that it was a trump card in the hands of the government but the chance was missed and the entire country is facing its result today.
Modi said it was the reason why Congress leaders do not want nationalism to be an issue. The statement from Modi came after Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot in his recent election rallies highlighted that a new nation (Bangladesh) was created by dividing Pakistan by Indian armed forces during the rule of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1971.
In February this year, the Indian Air Force claimed it struck at a terror camp in Balakote after a terrorist attack in Pulwama, which had left 40 CRPF personnel dead. Modi said his government crushed the ego of Pakistan and “forced the neighbouring country to roam in world with begging bowl.”
“Hamne Pakistan ki sari hekdi nika di. Use katora leke dunia me ghumne ko mene majboor kar diya hai,” he said.