Ready to deal with any situation in Doklam — Sitharaman

Dehradun, March 26 (PTI): Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that India was “alert” and ready to deal with any “unforeseen situation” in Doklam. The Defence Minister, who was on a visit to Uttarakhand for the first time after assuming office, also said that the government is constantly working towards modernisation of forces Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The face-off ended on August 28. Sitharaman said Uttarakhand was not only the land of gods (devbhoomi) but also the land of bravehearts who have always been a significant part of the country’s armed forces. Addressing NDA and IMA cadets, she said they were going to be part of a highly modernised force as a number of new initiatives have been taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to modernise the Army, Navy and the Air Force. Sitharaman also showered praise on the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering Director Colonel Ajay Kothiyal for training local youths to serve the armed forces, saying self-motivated people like him were a source of inspiration for everyone. Expressing the Centre’s commitment to do all it can for defence personnel and their families, she spoke of plans to build a command hospital equipped with modern facilities in the hills of Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat felicitated 140 youths from Uttarakhand who had qualified for the IMA and NDA handing them certificates and cheques of Rs 50,000 each. Families of Army veterans and those which had served the armed forces for generations were also honoured by the chief minister in the presence of the Defence Minister and the Army chief.