Union Minister Anurag Thakur said on Wednesday that India is one of the most powerful countries and that its defense forces and system are backed by a strong government.
On the last day of his two-day trip to Ladakh, the minister for information and media talked to people from the army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), as well as locals in the Chumur area near the India-China border.
Thakur said in a statement that the people of Ladakh don’t have to worry about outside forces because the government has taken steps to protect the borders.
During a meeting with ITBP members in Karzok village, which is 211 kilometers from Leh, he said, “The current government is working hard to make India a stronger and better country. The stronger (defense) forces are backed by a stronger government, and India is one of the most powerful countries in the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
The Union minister praised the bravery of the security forces and said that because of their hard work, the country’s borders are safe. He said that the government is working hard to improve all three parts of the military.
He also said that everyone in the country has a duty to work to make the country better.
Thakur said earlier that the country relied on imports for defense equipment, but that under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, more than 400 items in the defense industry are made in India.
Last year, defense equipment worth Rs 1 lakh crore was made and Rs 16,000 crore was sent abroad. These are both great achievements, he said, and the use of the latest technologies in making defense equipment has attracted foreign companies that want to work with Indian companies.
Thakur told a group of people in Karzok village that the Union Territory of Ladakh’s development is a top concern and that the government is working hard to bring a new era of prosperity to the area.
He promised the people there that their requests to improve digital connection, road connectivity, tourism infrastructure, the Jal Jeevan Mission, and sports infrastructure will be taken care of as soon as possible.
The minister said that the government has put in place many programs and plans all over the country to raise the standard of living for the people.
Even in Ladakh, things have changed. Agriculture is now more profitable, trade and industry are growing, there are more job options in different fields, and even in the most remote areas, good education and health care are available, he said.
Thakur thanked Prime Minister Modi for the government’s successful execution of the vibrant village program in the border areas.
The minister said that the Modi government wants Ladakh to grow more quickly and makes sure that local problems are dealt with in a good way.