Modi urges youths to join armed forces

Jamnagar, Mar 17 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today urged youths of the State to join the armed forces to safeguard the nation.

Speaking to mediapersons after laying the foundation stone of Sainik Bhavan here, he said he found most non-Gujaratis were part of the defence forces in India. Only a minuscule number of youths of the State were part of it, he reiterated.

He said ''A few Gujaratis have joined Navy recently. Some girls do hold higher posts in the Army.'' Reminiscing his interaction with Army officials, Mr Modi said he had the chance to be at Kargil where he met a father-son duo fighting for the nation. He said ''I felt immense pride when I learnt they were from Jamnagar.'' He said, the Sainik Bhavan, built by 'Phoolchhab Janmabhoomi Sainik Kalyan Trust', at the cost of Rs 52 lakh on 22,000 sq ft land, will be opened for retired soldiers and their families.

The single-storey building comprises of nine rooms on the ground floor, 12 on the first floor in addition to a community hall. The building will provide facilities like healthcare and social activities, he added.

UNI