On the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day on Saturday, August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the respect for India's sovereignty is supreme and the Indian Army has responded from the LOC to the LAC whoever raised an eye on the sovereignty of the country.

PM Modi greets people at Red Fort after addressing India on I-Day

PM Modi's comments come in the backdrop of recent Galwan Valley clash between Indian-Chinese soldiers.

Showing respect to the exemplary courage of Indian soldiers during the face-offs between the troops of the two countries in May-June this year in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, the Prime Minister said Indian Army has responded in the same language.

"Respect for India's sovereignty is supreme for us. What our brave soldiers can do for this resolution, what the country can do, the world has seen in Ladakh," Modi said referring to a violent clash in the Galwan Valley on June 15 in which as many as 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) were killed.

In his around 90-minute marathon speech, the Prime Minister said whoever has raised an eye on the sovereignty of the country, India and its Army has responded in the same language from the Line of Control (LoC) to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Modi said India is connecting its relations with its neighbours, whether they are connected to it on land or from the sea, with the partnership of security, development and trust.

Noting that one-fourth of the world's population lives in South Asia, the Prime Minister said we can create untold possibilities of development and prosperity of such a large population with cooperation and participation.

"All the leaders of the countries of this region have an important responsibility towards the development and progress of this huge mass group."

Referring to the present scenario, Modi said the neighbours are not only those who meet our geographical boundaries but also those who meet our hearts. "Where there is harmony in relationships, bonding occurs."

As much as India's efforts are for peace and harmony, Modi said the more commitment it has for its security and to make its Army stronger.

"India is also fully equipped for self-sufficiency in defence production," he added.

The Galwan clash

india china
The Prime Minister said whoever has raised an eye on the sovereignty of the country, India and its Army has responded in the same language from the Line of Control (LoC) to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).Reuters

Not only the Indian Army jawans were outnumbered by 1:5, but the Chinese even used drones to track down Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh.
Reportedly, when the Indian side came under attack from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers at patrolling point number 14 in Galwan Valley on the Line of Actual Control, they were massively outnumbered.

A violent scuffle between the Indian troops and soldiers of the Chinese PLA took place in the Galwan Valley on Monday (June 15) night.

"We were outnumbered," said an Indian Army officer while talking about the fights on the ridge near the Galwan river that went on for at least six to seven hours.

According to reports, China's PLA troopers "savagely attacked" Indian personnel. "The numbers were stacked up against the Indian Army troopers. Yet, the Indian side decided to fight the PLA. The Indian soldiers were outnumbered 1:5 by the Chinese troopers," the sources told news agency IANS on Wednesday, June 17.