Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday declared that the country will no longer be "helpless" in the face of terror, saying a 'New India' will pay back terrorists with 'interest' and that their influence has been curtailed and will be curbed further.
Modi also accused some opposition parties of doubting the armed forces and his government's fight against terrorism, saying their statements are helping Pakistan and harming the country.
Telling opposition parties to stop weakening India with their statements to strengthen their own own politics, the prime minister said, "Modi will come and go, India will remain." He did not name any party.
Addressing a public meeting here, the prime minister also hailed Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, saying every Indian was proud of him.
"Every Indian is proud that the brave wing commander Abhinandan belongs to Tamil Nadu," he said after inaugurating several government projects in the Rail and Road sectors.
Modi said he is proud that India's first woman Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is from Tamil Nadu.
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Reiterating his government's resolve against terrorism by retaliation, Modi slammed the previous Congress-led UPA government for not following such aggressive tactics and accused it of "blocking" surgical strikes post 26/11 Mumbai attacks in November 2008.
The country has been facing the menace of terrorism for years "but there is a big difference now..India will no longer be helpless in the face of terror," Modi said.
"This is a New India, this is an India that will return the damage done by terrorists with interest," he said, adding, "influence of terrorists and terrorism is curtailed and is going to be curtailed even more."
However, he said, it was sad that a few political parties "suspect our fight against terror."
"They should clarify- do they believe our armed forces or they believe those forces who support terrorism on our soil?
Citing reports, the prime minister said though the Indian Air Force wanted to carry out surgical strikes post 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, "UPA blocked it."
"And today we are in an era where the news reads armed forces have full freedom to do what they want."
Hitting out at the opposition and dynastic politics, Modi said "My only family is 130 crore Indians. I will live for them. I will die for them."
Slamming the Congress, Modi accused it of promoting an economic culture which benefited only the friends and family members of 'a big dynasty.'
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