India should not depend on others for army equipment: Modi

Rewari (Haryana), Sept 15: BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addressed massive ex-servicemen's rally at Rewari in Haryana on Sunday. Former Army chief Gen V K Singh also took part in the rally.

This will be Modi's first rally after his anointment as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

2.42 pm

Sardar Patel had united the country but we have forgotten him. He was the man who had united the peasants. "We are planning to build a statue of Patel, twice the USA's Statue of Liberty, and this Statue of Unity will be built with iron pieces used by peasants while tilting their fields. In this way, we will unite the entire nation." The project will begin after October 31.

2.41 pm

Modi stressed the importance of voter registration, especially among youngsters.

2.35 pm

Modi speaks on the budget allocation for the Army. "Why do we have to import military equipment from abroad?" He said the government is more concerned with the tenders and not the armymen's problem. "We should aim that foreigners buy weapons from us and not the other way round."

"If we depend on others and if they suddenly stop the supply, just imagine what would happen. This has happened to us in the past.

2.32 pm

Modi stresses contribution of the Army in the field of sports. He cited the example of Rajyavardhan Rathore, who won a medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

He said how teams of ex-servicemen helped the Gujarat government to curb theft of electricity.

2.25 pm

"Due to what is happening, youngsters not getting drawn to Army. This is a matter of big concern."

"Important for the youth to join the Army. More than battlefield, the wars will be fought using technology. Cyber war will be fought."

Modi demanded a White Paper on One Rank, One Pension facility for the ex-servicemen. "The problem wouldn't have persisted had Vajpayee came back to power in 2004."

2.24 pm

"I salute our security forces who have uploaded the Aan Baan Shaan of secularism."

"The votebank politics has targetted even armymen, which is a sin!"

2.12 pm

"The UNO should not feel satisfied with the fact that there has been no Third World War. Because the nature of war has changed. Today, the world is disturbed by terrorism and Maoism."

Modi expressed concern that the youth is not showing interest in joining army

"Atal Bihari Vajpayee's diplomacy had cornered Pakistan on the world stage but things have changed in the last nine years."

"There was a hope that the new democratic government of Pakistan will stress friendship with India but it is not so. I want to tell Pakistan that if we have to fight, we must fight poverty, illiteracy and superstition. I want to tell Islamabad that weapons haven't done any good in the last 60 years. Don't allow terrorists to thrive in Pakistan for 10 years, see how much your country progresses."

"The Pakistanis started targetting innocent people after failing to win straight wars. Cross-border terrorism won't help anybody. Pakistan's agenda may be anti-Indianism but it can't ensure its own development."

2.11 pm

"Pakistan and China are regularly attacking us. The problem is not at the borders but in New Delhi."

"We need a strong government in Delhi".

2.09 pm

"It has been so many years, to bring drinking water to our soldiers camels had to ferry water. We changed that"

2.05 pm

Modi slams Defence Minister AK Antony over his controversial remark over the Pakistani troops killing Indian soldiers near the LoC in August. He also slammed the JD(U) minister who remarked that people go to Army only to get killed.

"Our armed forces and security is not their priority."

"I still celebrate Diwali with the jawans at the Pakistan border"

2.02 pm

Modi salutes the army for its social service besides war responsibilities. He lauded the army for its relief action in Gujarat during the earthquakes in 2001 and also the recent Uttarakhand floods this year.

2.00 pm

"Shri Krishna came to Dwarka but he shares strong link with Kurulshetra. The Gita inspires people across the world."

1.57 pm

"It is a divine thing that my first rally as a PM candidate has been in a place of the armymen."

Modi speaks out his admiration for Dayanand Saraswati.

He said Morarji Desai was kept in jail during the Emergency, which established a bond between Gujarat and Haryana.

"I have worked here with leaders like Devi Lal, Bansilal and have attended rallies with Atal Bihari Vajpayee."

"This massive rally sends a signal for change in New Delhi."

1.55 pm

"After 1995 I was sent to north Indian states & I got to visit cantonments, meet officers"

1.50 pm

"A saw an advertisement about the admission in an army school in Jamnagar when I was in Class IV. I gathered Rs 2 to get a prospectus and asked my father for some money. My father discouraged me and my dream was crushed. It remained a regret."

He mocks Haryana Chief Minister Bhupainder Singh Hooda, saying the latter has had favours from Gujarat for he had also studied in the same school.

"During the China War, I had the opportunity to serve the armymen who were on their way to the battlefield".

1.48 pm

There is no good news heard in India nowadays. "I am tired of hearing about negative news. It is great when one hears about some good news." He referred to the successful launch of Agni V ballistic missile and congratulated the scientists.

1.44 pm

"It is a great opportunity to be among army men." He salutes heroes of the 1857 independence movement, mentions freedom fighter Rao Tula Ram. "We are very proud of our serviceman."

1.40 pm

Modi begins his speech. Wishes everybody, including the ex-servicemen.

1.35 pm

Modi being presented with a commander baton. Gen VK Singh's wife also welcomed.

1.29 pm

Gen Singh said India's foreign policies are not in order, which is instigating our close neighbours to attack its borders. "National security is not only about our borders. It is social, economical security and everything else that makes nation happy," he said.

The border personnel are like the nation's insurance and the country won't be safe it the insurance is not taken care of. He said it is a matter of shame that no memorials have come up for those jawans who sacrificed their lives for the country apart from those set up after the First World War.

1.20 pm

Gen VK Singh speaks. "This is historic...so many of you have gathered here. I think everyone is scared," he said. Singh appealed for 30 seconds of silence to pay tribute to the brave Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives to save the nation's border against Chinese aggressors.

1.18 pm

Modi facilitated with a turban, sword and bouquets. Gen VK Singh also facilitated.

1.15 pm

The audience impatient to hear Modi speak. Khanduri ends his speech.

1.10 pm

Khanduri speaks again.

1.05 pm

BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi arrives. The audience welcomes him with a thunderous applause.

Great being in Rewari, the land that has given our country brave soldiers. Will address ex-servicemen rally. Join us http://t.co/hnqiK7Onqp

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 15, 2013

12.58 pm

Former Army chief Gen VK Singh arrives at the rally.

12.47 pm

Lt. General Raj Kadyan speaks at the rally. He said more than weapons, it is the soldiers who win wars. He said nobody can say now whether the morale of the Indian soldiers is high at the moment. Kadyan demanded One Rank, One Pension for the soldiers, besides a separate pay commission and constitutional body for the men in uniform. He also demanded that the ex-servicemen should be kept in a government job till 60. He said senior BJP leader LK Advani assured that his party would think about One Rank, One Pension if it comes to power. He said he hoped that the BJP will remember its promise.

12.45 pm

Lok Sabha MP Shri Kuldeep Bishnoi of Haryana Janhit Congress joined the rally.

12.40 pm

Olympic medalist Rajyavardhan Rathore speaks at the rally. Rathore joined the BJP at a recent rally in Jaipur. "If Narendra Modi comes (as PM), the Indian Army will give befitting reply to Pakistan," Rathore said.

12.20 pm

Former Uttarakhand chief minister BC Khanduri, who is also a Major General himself, is also present at the rally. He stresses the importance of national security and said a strong military is needed to build a strong nation.

'Taj Badal Do, Takht Badal Do', 'Dekho Dekho Kaun Aya, Bharat Ma ka Sher Aya' are some of the slogans heard at the rally.

In Rewari, Haryana

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi showing swagger stick at the Ex servicemen rally in Rewari, Haryana on Sunday.

In Rewari, Haryana

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at the Ex servicemen rally in Rewari, Haryana on Sunday.

In Rewari, Haryana

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi shakes hand with Haryana Janhit Congress President Kuldeep Bishnoi,at the Ex servicemen rally in Rewari, Haryana on Sunday.

In Rewari, Haryana

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi with retired Army chief V K Singh during the Ex-sevicemen rally in Rewari, Haryana on Sunday.

In Rewari, Haryana

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi with retired Army chief V K Singh during the Ex-sevicemen rally in Rewari, Haryana on Sunday.

In Rewari, Haryana

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during the Ex sevicemen rally in Rewari,Haryana on Sunday.

In Rewari, Haryana

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi with retired Army chief V K Singh and others during the Ex-sevicemen rally in Rewari, Haryana on Sunday.

In Rewari, Haryana

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Ex sevicemen rally in Rewari, Haryana on Sunday.

In Rewari, Haryana

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during the Ex sevicemen rally in Rewari,Haryana on Sunday.

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