Amidst the ongoing hostilities with Pakistan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the Modi government will not allow anyone to dent India's honour and every citizen has faith in the country's armed forces.
Singh, who is on a two-day trip to Ladakh, dismissed queries about doubts being raised by some quarters on the surgical strike carried out by the army on the terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
"I have not read any such statement. Desh ke bache, bache ko sena par bharosa hain aur garv hain, aur rahega (The entire nation has faith in our armed forces and are proud of them and it will remain so)," he told reporters in Kargil.
"Our government will not allow anyone to dent the country's honour and prestige at any cost. We will ensure that the country's head is always held high," he said.
Asked about the demand for Union Territory status for Ladakh, the home minister said he has listened to the people of Kashmir, Jammu as well as Ladakh but a decision will be taken only on the basis of consensus.
"We always try that any decision is taken only on the basis of consensus," he said.
Bharatiya Janata Party's ally Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday expelled its Leh district chief Tashi Gyalson from its basic membership for signing a memorandum submitted to Singh demanding Union Territory status for Ladakh, saying under no circumstances will it endorse any move aimed at dividing the state.
The head of PDP's Disciplinary Committee Abdul Rehman Veeri expelled Gyalson for violating the party's whip, a party spokesman said in a statement.
The Union minister said during his trip to Ladakh since Monday, 21 delegations of political parties, religious groups and civil society members have met him and placed before him various demands.
"We will try to resolve their problems as much as possible. If there are issues concerning other Ministries (of central government), we will write to them or tell the concerned Ministers," he said.
The home minister said he paid homage to the martyrs at the war memorial at Drass.
This is Singh's fourth visit to Jammu and Kashmir ever since the unrest began in the state following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8.
Singh had led an all-party delegation to Srinagar and Jammu on September 4-5.
The leaders of various political parties met over 400 people who came in 50 different delegations representing various sections of society in Srinagar and Jammu.
Earlier, the home minister had visited Srinagar on August 24-25 and July 23-24. Singh was accompanied by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other senior officials.
