LUCKNOW: Paying respects to chief of defence staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat who, along with 12 others lost his life in a helicopter crash recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed him as a brave warrior who had brought about significant changes in the forces but said, that even as the country was reeling under the tremendous loss, India would continue on the path to progress.
“India is in pain after the passing away of its first CDS Bipin Rawat but it will not stop or pause and will strive harder to face every challenge, both within and outside the country,” the CM said while inaugurating the Saryu Canal project on Saturday.
Crediting the CDS for having worked towards making the forces ‘atma nirbhar’ or self-reliant, the PM said that he was a brave and hard working man. “A soldier is not a soldier only when he is in the army. His whole life is marked by discipline and dedicating himself for the country’s dignity.
“In the coming days, Rawat will see his India moving forward with a new resolve. He worked towards increasing security at the border, strengthening infrastructure at the border, making forces self-reliant, strengthening coordination between the three forces etc, work which will continue. India is in mourning but we will not slow down or stop our progress,” the PM said, adding that all Indians would work together to make the country more powerful.
The PM also mentioned the lone survivor of the crash, Group Captain Varun Singh who is fighting for his life in a hospital in Bengaluru. The PM said that doctors were working hard to save his life and while he prayed for his quick recovery, he assured Singh’s family that the country was standing with them, and with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the accident.