Asserting that the Narendra Modi government had the courage to take strong decisions, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley Sunday said India has responded adequately to Pakistan's provocations of repeatedly violating the ceasefire."There has been a series of provocations for the last few days. Our armed forces are there at the LoC (Line of Control) and the BSF is there at the international border. protecting both our territory and people," Jaitley said in West Bengal's Murshidabad district."Whatever response is required to these provocations by Pakistan is being adequately taken by them," he said.On Saturday, two people were killed and seven others injured in heavy firing by Pakistani forces on Border Security Force (BSF) posts on the international border in Jammu district.
Jaitley later visited the upcoming Behrampore Military Station in the district, where he was briefed about the Rs.600 crore project by Army chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag, and Eastern Army commander Lt.Gen. M.M.S. Rai.
The new military station is part of the 17 Mountain Strike Corps which India is raising along the China border with its headquarters in Panagarh in Burdwan district.Later, addressing a party rally in Kolkata, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader asserted the Modi government was capable of taking strong decisions."When Pakistan requested that our foreign secretaries be sent for talks, we obliged. But when Pakistan showed its true face, we made it clear that we will continue following our stand that talks and terrorism cannot go together," he said. Claiming that the erstwhile Congress-led government did not had the courage to take tough measures, Jaitley contended the Modi government has taken a strong step by asking Pakistan to decide if it wants to talk to the Kashmiri separatists or the India government."We firmly told Pakistan to decide whether they want talks with the separatists or the India government. What kind of relation do they want? If you want to talk to the separatists, then you can walk that path," he added.