New Delhi: If India senses a threat, it “will surely fight, on our soil and on foreign soil”, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has said.
Addressing a function at Rishikesh-based Parmarth Niketan ashram Saturday, Doval sought to discuss India’s policy towards threats to national security.
In a video clip of the address, posted to the ashram’s Facebook page, he is heard saying, “You said we have never attacked… There are views about it, that if there was danger from somewhere, we should have done it… to save the country it is important…
“It is not necessary that we only fight where you want to, but where the threat originates,” he adds. Doval then says India fights “where we feel the threat is coming”.
“We have never done it for selfish reasons. We will surely fight, on our soil and on foreign soil, but not for our personal interests. But in the interests of parmarth (spirituality),” he says.
As the remarks come amid India’s border stand-off with China, some media reports sought to portray Doval’s statement as a warning to Beijing.
However, ANI quoted government officials as saying that the NSA was speaking purely in a civilisational and spiritual context and was not referring to any country or specific situation.
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‘Seers founded nation’
In other parts of his address at the ashram, the NSA described India as a civilisation state not based on any religion, language or sect, saying its foundation is based on its culture.
Seers (rishis and munis) founded the nation (rashtra) exclusive of the state (rajya) of India, he said.
“We don’t protect the nation, we secure the state. State (rajya) has definite boundaries. The nation (rashtra) is safeguarded by those who founded it. It is founded by you,” he added, addressing the spiritual leaders at the ashram.
Even if the state is not around, the nation will continue to be there, he added.
“You fight with spirituality,” he said.
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Enough brovado sir! Let’s have some action. Try occupying some Chinese land to use as bargaining chip to diffuse the tensions with China. Our PM cannot even name the enemies. Don’t talk about fighting on the foreign soils. Perhaps that will be done as a part of UN peace keeping forces.
That is good idea. We Indians never thought of that since centuries. Offence is the best defence. Since time immemorial, we allowed invaders to come into our home and then tried to push them back. All the invaders from Alexander, Muslim , Changaz Khan Timur or Abdalli, we allowed all up-to our hearts before facing them. Shastari followed this doctrine of ‘offence is the best defence’ in 1965 , when he ordered to attack on Pakistan in Punjab sector. Which Pakistan never anticipated. Even during Kargil, we acted defensive. Now the time has come to change the Hindu style of warfare and we should deal with the enemy on its own soil.