Aggressor will receive fitting reply : J. Ram
POONA, September 19.—The defence Minsiter, Mr. Jagjivan Ram, declared today the country was ready to meet the threat of war from Pakistan.
“We will not only defend our frontiers, but force the aggressor back into his territory,” he told the officers of the Armoured Corps Centre and School at Ahmednagar.
The Defence Minister said he was glad to see their high morale. “Our jawans are a dedicated and patriotic people determined to defend the integrity of the country.
“Our armed forces are better equipped and trained today than ever before. We will give a fitting reply to any aggressor, which he will never forget,” he said.
The Minister assured the officers and jawans that the Government would do its best to improve their working and living conditions. “In the final analysis it is not money alone that can compensate for your hardship. It is the gratitude of the people of the country. The people of India will rise like one man to support you.”
The country was faced with many problems. “But we are confident of solving them. We are a strong, united and growing nation,” he said.
Addressing a mammoth public meeting in the city later, Mr. Jagjivan Ram said the Government could not proceed rapidly in abolishing poverty because of the influx of evacuees from Bangladesh.
“We can stop the influx of evacuees by scaling our borders. But India will not do it. We have always helped people in distress,” he said.-PTI.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 20.9.1971