India 'won't hesitate' to retaliate against terrorist activities: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has gone on the offensive, warning Pakistan that any acts of terrorism originating in its soil would not be tolerated and that India would have no hesitation in retaliating in kind of such events were to occur. The 'new and powerrful India' would give a befitting reply to any such terrorist ambitions propagated by Pakistan, the minister said while addressing the Shaheed Samman Yatra in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh.

"We have given a clear message to our neighbour on the western border that if it crosses its limits, we will just not retaliate on the borders but can even cross over into its territory and do surgical and airstrikes," Rajnath Singh was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Despite this, India was also a country that desired cordial relations with all her neighbours but some neighbours were determined not to understand or respect this, Singh alleged. The Shaheed Samman Yatra pays tribute to the sacrifices made by soldiers from Uttarakhand. Covering 70 blocks in 13 districts of the state, it will collect soil from the homes of 1734 martyrs until December 7. The soil will be then be used in the construction of Shainya Dham in Dehradun.

The Shainya Dham, fifth of its kind after the four traditional Char Dhams, will host the names of soldiers from Uttarakhand and their military legacy, honouring the sacrifices of those fallen in battle. In 2019, Modi had announced the intent of creating the fifth Dham as "every second home" in Uttarakhand was that of an army man's.

The Defence Minister also announced that the Centre had increased the ex-gratia amount provided in case of the battle casualties to ₹8 lakh. "Earlier, the ex-gratia amount for the battle casualty was ₹2 lakh which has been increased by four times," Singh said.