New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing troops during a surprise visit to a forward post in Ladakh today, said: "Your bravery and dedication for the motherland is unparalleled. Every single Indian across the world, especially in India, has the belief that you all can deliver and keep the nation strong and safe."
"Your courage is higher than the heights where you all are stationed. Your arms are as strong as the mountains that surround you. Your confidence, determination and belief is as immovable (Atal) and the peaks here," he said.
PM Modi, accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, and Army Chief General MM Naravane, was flown by chopper to Nimu, 11,000 feet up in the Himalayas and on the banks of the river Indus.
PM Modi made a surprise visit to a forward post in Ladakh this morning and interacted with troops days after the June 15 border clash with China in which 20 soldiers were killed in the line of duty. The Prime Minister's visit served as a morale booster for the forces and a powerful message to China, which has shown unrelenting aggression at the border with incursions spotted in satellite images.
Here are the updates on PM Modi's Visit to Ladakh:
Jul 03, 2020 18:16 (IST)
JustIn| China responds to PM Modi's strong message in Ladakh, says "groundless to view China as expansionist"
Jul 03, 2020 14:31 (IST)
Courage is all about standing your ground and defending the truth and defending what is right. And the sons of India who gave their life for the nation defending the motherland have shown courage at the highest level. Today, all of India is talking about you all and your contribution to the nation. Every home in India is discussing your bravery and every citizen stands in your support. The nation salutes you and looks up to you. Your fellow countrymen will do everything it takes to ensure that the India you all envisage is the India of the future, said PM Modi.
Jul 03, 2020 14:26 (IST)
For a long time, India had been desiring seamless communication and coordination between the various divisions of the armed forces, today we have it in form of the Chief of Defence Staff. Today, our soldiers have also got their other long-pending demand of a One Rank One Pension (OROP).
Jul 03, 2020 14:15 (IST)
What you have done here, the message you have sent, is a message that has reached the world. It has been a bold statement. Today, every single Indian across the world and especially in India, has the belief that you all can deliver and keep the nation strong and safe, PM Modi address to soldiers in Ladakh.
Jul 03, 2020 14:12 (IST)
What you have done here, the message you have sent, is a message that has reached the world. It has been a bold statement. Today, every single Indian across the world and especially in India, has the belief that you all can deliver and keep the nation strong and safe.
Jul 03, 2020 12:54 (IST)
According to the Prime Minister's office, he was at a forward location in Nimu. He reached there early in the morning by chopper from Leh and will return later today.
Jul 03, 2020 12:51 (IST)
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief MM Naravane accompanied the PM as he toured the region, met with soldiers and was briefed on the face-off with China since early May.