Undeterred by the controversy over his earlier “terrorists have to be neutralised only through terrorists” remark, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has asserted that he will go to “any extent” to protect India and those who attack will be “paid back in the same coin”.
Parrikar noted that his remarks evoked a sharp reaction only from one country and, without naming Pakistan, said the question was about his reaction on the terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir supported by Pakistan. “So the response was based on that,” he told a news agency in an interview.
He further added that the word “neutralise” does not mean only killing but also making terrorists switch the sides and surrendering.
Underlining that his remark was generic and not against <g data-gr-id="60">anyone</g> in particular, Parrikar maintained that only a certain part of his remarks was picked up and highlighted.
“Basically, if I have to defend my country, I will go to any extent...Whatever is required to be done will be done.
That is the basic motto which one should have.
“If someone harms my country, I have to take pro-active action....The army’s basic purpose is that if anyone attacks the country, attack him back. Pay him back in the same coin,” Parrikar asserted, underlining that one does not keep 13 lakh strong Army to “preach peace”.
However, he clarified that “I have not said I am going to do <g data-gr-id="66">covert</g> operation. I did not talk about it. The person who asked me talked about <g data-gr-id="65">covert</g> operation. Not me.”
During a media event last week, Parrikar, in reply to a question, had said, “We have to neutralise terrorists through terrorists only. Why can’t we do it? We should do it”.
The remarks generated <g data-gr-id="51">sharp</g> reaction from Pakistan which said it confirms apprehensions about India’s involvement in terrorism.
“This statement only confirms Pakistan’s apprehensions about India’s involvement in terrorism in Pakistan. It must be the first time that a Minister of an elected government openly advocates use of terrorism in another country on the pretext of preventing terrorism from that country or its non-state actors,” <g data-gr-id="75">Sartaz</g> Aziz, Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, has said.
“It is my duty to go to any extent. It is my oath that I have taken that I will protect the constitution. Protecting constitution means protecting the country. So obviously, for <g data-gr-id="70">protection</g> of my country, certain issues have to be done. Giving <g data-gr-id="50">interpretation</g> to it, I will not give,” Parrikar said.
The minister also said he is clear when he talks about neutralising. “The word <g data-gr-id="76">neutralising</g> does not mean killing all the time. <g data-gr-id="77">Neutralising</g> means a person surrendering, using someone against someone, it can be through peaceful means also. <g data-gr-id="78">Neutralising</g> means he comes on your side. That means intelligence,” he said.
‘Bofors guns are good’
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday described the quality of Swedish Bofors guns as “good” but refused to comment on remarks attributed to President Pranab Mukherjee that the controversy surrounding its acquisition was a “media trial”. “I can only certify that Bofors guns are good. I do not make any statement on President’s statement. If you ask me about <g data-gr-id="109">quality</g> of Bofors guns, then they are good,” Parrikar told reporters here.