'India gave befitting replies to ceasefire violations'

Even though Pakistan violated ceasefire in the Jammu and Kashmir 19 times since Narendra Modi took over as the prime minister, Indian forces retaliated each and every time in a befitting manner, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

“Our heads have not bowed and will never bow,” Jaitley said responding to a question from Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, who wanted to know why Modi government bowed before Pakistan.

Accusing Azad of politicising Indo-Pak relations, Jaitley said there were 56 ceasefire violations till July 17 across the Line of Control and in the undisputed stretch of the border, out of which 19 occurred since the new government assumed the charges.

In the last 10 years of UPA rule, there were as many as 347 ceasefire violations including 199 along the Line of Control. “All ceasefire violations are taken up with the Pakistani authorities through the established mechanism of hot lines and flag meetings,” he said.

Modi’s bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Delhi on May 27, was preceded by firing from the Pakistan side, killing one Indian soldier.

In the meeting with Pakistani prime minister hours after taking over as prime minister, Modi underlined the importance of maintaining ceasefire, which is in place since 2003.

“Our prime minister emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity at the borders and upholding the sanctity of the LoC,” Jaitley said, “When we left the government in 2004, there was only one ceasefire violation in one year.”

The defence minister’s comments come on the eve of 15th anniversary of India’s victory over Pakistan in Kargil. Indian Army plans to celebrate the Kargil Victory Day in a big way involving the defence minister and outgoing Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh, who is slated to be in Drass on July 25 to commemorate the day.