Dahod (Gujarat), May 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked people of Pakistan to understand that their government and Army are supporting terrorism for their benefit, and therefore they must come forward to end the menace which is ruining their lives.
On his first visit to Gujarat after Operation Sindoor, the Centre’s military response to the August 22 Pahalgam terror attack, he warned that if the people of Pakistan do not choose the path of peace, they will face the wrath of the Indian Army.
The PM, who on Monday completed 11 years in office, also highlighted India surpassing Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy and asked Pakistani citizens to mull where their country stands.
“While India believes in tourism, Pakistan considers terrorism as tourism, which is very dangerous for the world. I want to ask the people of Pakistan — what have they achieved? Today, India is the 4th largest economy in the world. But what is your situation? Those who promoted terrorism ruined your future,” emphasised Modi.
He was addressing a gathering in Bhuj town of Kutch district of Gujarat, which shares land as well as maritime borders with Pakistan, after launching projects worth over Rs 50,000 crore.
“Terrorism is a way of making money for your (Pakistan) government and Army. The people of Pakistan must come forward to end terrorism. Live a happy and peaceful life and have your meal. Otherwise, my bullet is there for you (sukh chain ki zindagi jio, roti khao. Varna meri goli to hai hee),” said the PM in a message to people across the border.
“Post-Pahalgam attack, I waited for 15 days hoping Pakistan would take action on terrorism, but it seems it is their bread and butter. On the night of May 9, when Pakistan tried to attack civilians, our military attacked with double force and decimated their air bases,” he told the gathering.
Twenty-six men were gunned down by terrorists in Pahalgam in Kashmir on April 22, following which India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, resulting in massive damage to terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.
“How can India and Modi sit quietly after such a terrorist attack? Anyone who dares to erase the sindoor from the foreheads of our sisters (sindoor is a sign of marriage, and its wiping off signifies widowhood) will surely be eliminated,” he said to the huge cheering crowd.
Terrorists may not have imagined in their wildest dreams how difficult it would be to fight against Modi, the PM said.
He said the action was part of the responsibility citizens of the nation gave him when they made him ‘pradhan sevak” on May 26, 2014.
Modi gave a free hand to the three wings of the country’s armed forces, and its warriors did what the world had not seen for the last several decades, Modi asserted.
Tearing into Pakistan, the prime minister said, “The country that came into existence after Partition lives on hatred for India. It only wants to harm Bharat. However, India’s goals are to remove poverty, bring about economic development, and become a developed nation.”
“Our government’s policy is to take development to areas that have remained backward,” he added.
He also urged people to buy and use products made in India during festivals like Holi, Diwali, and Ganesh Puja.
“Don’t you think we have to stop using imported products? During our festivals, we use imported items like firecrackers and Ganesha idols (which are not good). To ensure our country’s progress, everyone should take a resolve to purchase only Made in India products” said Modi.
“Everything we need for our country’s progress must be made right here in India,” the PM told the gathering.