India wants peace, but not at cost of honour: Rajnath

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that India wants peace with China but that cannot come at the cost of honour.

"Humlog shanti chahte hai samman ki saath. Asamman ke saath shanti nahi ho sakti (We want peace with honour. Peace cannot come at the cost of honour," he said, referring to the recent border row with China.

"Pride is the ultimate accomplishment of a human being, of mine and yours," he said, addressing the 53rd Raising Dday function of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police in Greater Noida, which guards the Sino-Indian border.

Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that New Delhi wants to maintain peaceful relations with all its neighbouring countries and wanted to resolve border issues peacefully. "Our prime minister has told the Chinese President (Xi Jinping) and requested him that if there is a dispute we should talk," he said.

The home minister said China often raises question over the border and even had raised objections when India wanted to improve border infrastructure within its own territory.

Referring to Pakistan, the home minister said the neighbouring country should stop firing on border posts and civilian areas. He said Pakistan had fired upon the civilian areas along the border in Jammu and Kashmir just a day before Diwali.  "When we get to know about ceasefire violations by Pakistan or there is some dispute in the context of India-China border, we feel hurt and we feel angered.”

"Pakistan fired on civilians even on the eve of Deepawali festival and they did not even spare our festival. Pakistan should be wary of this. I want to tell Pakistan to stop this continuous violation of ceasefire," he said.

The home minister said Pakistan should know that Indian border guarding and armed forces possess the "capability to give a befitting reply" during any misadventure.

Singh disapproved of Pakistan's recent move of approaching the United Nations on the Kashmir issue and seeking the world body's intervention, saying all issues can be resolved through bilateral talks. He said the government will ensure India's territorial integrity and will not compromise with the country's pride.    

"India wants to keep friendly relations with our neighbours whether it is China or Pakistan. We believe in the philosophy of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam which means the world is one family and India has told the world about it," he said.

Later talking to reporters, the home minister said India never indulges in the violation of ceasefire and it always believes in peace. "Firing has happened (along the Pakistan border) in the last two days as well and ceasefire violation is always from their (Pakistan) side," he said.

Singh said if people of the country march together beyond the barriers of caste, religion and sect, no one can dare to look towards it.

Lauding the role of the ITBP in guarding the country's border in high altitude areas, Singh said the government will provide all help for the welfare of the force and its personnel.