New Delhi: In a significant announcement in the wake of the tensions with China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that his government has given the armed forces full freedom to take any necessary action.

Addressing the all-party meeting he called to discuss the border situation, Modi said: "Our forces are fully capable of defending our borders."

He also asserted that whether it is an issue of trade, connectivity or counter-terrorism, India has not submitted to any external pressure.

"What is necessary for national security, whatever infrastructure is needed to be built on the borders, it will be done at the same rapid speed," he said.

The Prime Minister also said that one benefit of the improved infrastructure is that is has become easier to reach the necessities to the soldiers living in harsh conditions on the border areas.

"India wants peace and friendship, but the issue of its sovereignty is supreme," he said, noting that all participants in the meeting had expressed the same sentiments.

"While on one hand, we have allowed the defence forces to take whatever steps they may deem fit, on the other hand, we have also conveyed our resolve to China through diplomatic means. It is definite that whatever happened on the LAC has shocked and enraged the entire nation," Modi said 
 
Modi categorically stated at the all-party meeting that no Indian post or territory has been occupied by anyone.

"At the outset, the Prime Minister clarified that neither is anyone inside our territory nor are any of our posts captured. He said that 20 of our brave soldiers made the supreme sacrifice for the nation in Ladakh but also taught a lesson to those who had dared to look towards our motherland. The nation will forever remember their valour and sacrifice," government sources said.

In the virtual meeting attended by 20 political parties, the Prime Minister said that our forces are doing whatever is necessary to protect the country. The sources said Modi assured "we are capable and nobody can take even an inch of our land."

Modi assured the leaders that "the armed forces are leaving no stone unturned to protect the country. Be it deployment, action or counter action, through land, sea or air, our forces are taking the necessary steps to protect the country."

"Provision has also been made for fighter planes, modern helicopters, missile defence systems and other such needs of our forces. Through the recently developed infrastructure, patrolling capacity at LAC has also increased," he said, adding that through this, we are better informed about the developments at LAC and consequently are able to monitor and respond better. The movements of the adversary which used to take place without any disruption earlier are now checked by our jawans, which at times leads to build up of tension.

He assured that all steps necessary for national security and construction of necessary infrastructure will continue to be taken at a fast pace. He reassured the leaders about the capability of the armed forces to defend the borders and said that they have been given a free hand to take all necessary steps (IANS)