India giving befitting reply to militants: Manohar Parrikar

Kanpur: Claiming that there has been a decline in the number of infiltration bids along the Indo-Pak border, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the country is giving a befitting reply to militants and this year around 30 insurgents have been killed in encounters.

"India has started giving a befitting reply to the Pakistani militants. One Indian soldier and a few police personnel have been killed during infiltration bids by militants but in response our army killed 28 to 30 of them in encounters," he said during an interaction with reporters on Wednesday.

The Defence Minister, who was on a visit to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and other defence equipment manufacturing companies in the city, said that firing aimed at Indian outposts provide a cover to militants attempting to enter the Indian territory.

Parrikar said now even our security forces are responding to the firing and the militant launching pads are on a lookout for opportunities to infiltrate but are not successful.

On a report about Pakistan stock-piling nuclear weapons, Parrikar said, "I do not want to comment as it is a sensitive issue. I have read the report but it is a Pakistani version so I do not want to say anything on it. India is in favour of 'Never Use First' policy. But I would like to say that our country is a ahead of its neighbour in every sphere and is much stronger."

Asked about Pakistan providing aid to militants, he said there are no good terrorists or bad terrorists. A terrorist is just a terrorist and strict action should be taken against them, he added.

"I did not have tea with them (Pakistani leaders)," Parrikar said when asked that instead of sending strong signals to Pakistan, which was supporting militants, leaders of the two countries were having tea together.

On relations with China, the minister said we are holding regular talks and we are working on confidence building measures between the two countries.

"We are working according to our strengths. We want better relations with our neighbours but they will improve only when our strength and defence will increase. We are not only improving relations with our neighbours but are also strengthening ourselves simultaneously," he added.

On one-rank, one-pension Parrikar said work is being done fast in this direction and it will be implemented soon. He said he is hopeful that the ministry officials will soon complete the paperwork to the effect. 

On the trial room camera episode involving Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said strict action will be taken against those responsible.

Irani, who visited a Fabindia store at Candolim in Goa last week, had alleged that it a CCTV camera was focused at the trial room following which four employees of the store were arrested and later granted bail.