File photo of Union Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar.
In a rebuff to Pakistan Prime Minister, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said he prefers to ignore Nawaz Sharif's four-point proposal, including demilitarisation of Kashmir and unconditional withdrawal of forces from Siachen by both the countries.
"We need not listen to others on what we should do in our country. If anyone speaks anything about our country then I will prefer to ignore it," Mr Parrikar told reporters at Vadtal village in Kheda district of Gujarat.
He was replying to a question about Mr Sharif's speech at the UN General Assembly on September 30 where he had proposed a four-point "peace initiative" with India, which included a proposal of demilitarisation of Kashmir, "unconditional and mutual" withdrawal of forces from Siachen, restraint by both countries from "use or the threat of use of force under any circumstances" and formalisation of the 2003 border ceasefire.
Mr Parrikar, who was in Vadtal today to attend the second gathering of 'Akhil Bhartiya Purva Sainik Seva Parishad' (All India Former Defence Personnels Association), also said the situation in Kashmir had been peaceful for the last couple of days.
The adoption of 'Make in India' policy in the defence sector will generate 20-30 lakh jobs, he said.
"Make in India is one of the key programmes initiated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government...If Make in India happens, then around 20 to 30 lakh people will get employment from the defence sector. (But) It is not going to happen in (just) couple of days," he said.
Mr Parrikar refused to comment on the Patel agitation for OBC quota in Gujarat, only saying that the state government was capable and "mature" to handle it.