Situation in Afghanistan matter of concern, India on alert: Rajnath
Darpan News Desk IANS, 30 Aug, 2021 11:35 AM
New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) The deteriorating situation in neighbouring Afghanistan is of concern, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.
Delivering the Balramji Das Tandon seminar on 'National Security', he said: "Whatever is happening in the neighbouring Afghanistan raises concern with regards to the security apparatus. Our government is monitoring the evolving situation in the country."
He also stressed that the government wants security of Indians and also ensure that no cross-border terror activities could take place, taking a cue from the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.
About the challenges India could face amid the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, Rajnath Singh said: "Our government is alert and ready to deal with all situations. We are always prepared to deal with threats emanating from anywhere - land, air and water."
After Taliban took over Kabul on August 15, Afghanistan has plunged into a big humanitarian crisis. Pakistan is perceived as having played a major role in bringing the Taliban back to power. As evacuation of foreign nationals winds down, a US missile defence system intercepted rockets fired towards the Kabul international airport.
The minister also said that India is prepared to deal with any eventualities in a bid to secure its sovereignty.
"Our objective is to make India, a prosperous, strong and secure country."
He said that India does not threaten other countries but seeks to instill in them a sense of faith and trust that a strong India is not a threat for them.
About the border dispute with China, he said that there was an attempt to change the status quo unilaterally but "the Narendra Modi government has clearly given direction not to compromise on such an issue".
After paying floral tributes to the former Prime Minister at Central Hall of Parliament, Defence Minister Singh tweeted, "Paid tributes to former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi ji on his birth anniversary at Parliament House today."
Microsoft and MAQ Software will set up their units in Noida whereas PepsiCo has started construction of its factory in Mathura, said an Industrial Department official.
Stressing that Rajiv Gandhi was a close friend, Amarinder Singh recalled that he always used ask when the day will come when people will have their own houses to live and India would be free from poverty. He, therefore, thought it apt to launch this scheme on the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, said the Chief Minister, adding that the Congress had fighting for the people for the last 130 years.
Sisodia, who is also the nodal minister for Covid management in the national capital, stated that no one can deny that Delhi grappled with an oxygen shortage during the peak of the second wave of the Covid pandemic (April-May) and several people died due to oxygen shortage.
Speaking at the meeting, Sonia Gandhi said, "Monsoon session of Parliament was a complete washout entirely due to the government's obstinate and arrogant unwillingness to discuss and debate urgent issues of public importance."
The Chief Secretary said the 300-bed state of the art hospital will act as a tertiary care centre for the entire northern region, comprising Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
