Country in safe hands : PM Modi

“Today, from the land of Churu, I want to assure the people of the country that the country is in safe hands,” Modi said at a public rally in Rajasthan on Tuesday afternoon.

The very same day, early in the morning, India had carried out “non-military, pre-emptive air strikes” across the Line of Control to target the largest terror camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, which, the government said, was planning more attacks in the country after the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama in which 40 soldiers were killed.

Twelve Mirage 2000 fighter jets dropped 1,000-kg bombs on a terrorist camp at Balakot, which is said to be the base of JeM.

He began is his speech by asking people to raise slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and said, “Today your mood seems a lot different. I can understand this josh (enthusiasm). Today is a moment when we should salute our brave soldiers.”

Referring to the pledge he had made during the election campaign in 2014, he reiterated, “Saugandh mujhe iss mitti ki, Main desh nahin mitne doonga, Main desh nahin rukne doonga, Main desh nahin jhukne doonga (I swear by this land I won’t let my country be destroyed, halted or humbled).”

“My soul says, today is the day to reiterate what I had expressed in 2014. I pledge on this soil, I will not let the country die. It is my promise to Mother India, I will not let your head be bowed. I salute our armed forces, I salute all fellow Indians, your Pradhan Sevak bows to you,” he added.

“Nothing is above the nation. Those who serve the nation, everyone who is engaged in nation building, Pradhan Sevak (prime servant, as he often refers to himself) once again greets them,” he said.

“The reason I am able to work like this is because of your support, your trust… and let me tell you this… that we are a government that thinks a party is bigger than an individual, and the nation is bigger than any party,” said PM Modi.

The PM headed for the rally in Churu, not far from the international border with Pakistan, after chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security in Delhi following the air strike which he is believed to have monitored through the night.