New Delhi, Aug 22 (UNI) In a sharp attack, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today trashed Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir’s “Ferrari-dumper truck” remarks as “reflective of a deeper systemic failure in Pakistan’s political and military outlook”.
“Recently, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir was heavily trolled both within Pakistan and across the world for his statement,” the Defence Minister said at an event here.
“Everyone said the same thing: if two countries gained independence at the same time, and one of them built a Ferrari-like economy through hard work, sound policies, and vision, while the other is still stuck in the condition of a dump truck, then that’s their own failure.
“I also see Asim Munir’s statement as a kind of confession,” the Defence Minister said taking a jibe at the Pakistan Army chief.
Singh accused Munir of exposing a “tribal and plundering mentality” that has defined Pakistan’s path since its inception.
“The Chief of the Army of Pakistan, knowingly or unknowingly, has pointed towards a tribal and plundering mentality that Pakistan has been a victim of since its very beginning,” he said.
“We must break this illusion harboured by the Pakistani military. In fact, after ‘Operation Sindoor’, such illusions shouldn’t even exist in their minds.”
The Defence Minister emphasised the importance of maintaining a balance between economic progress and national security. “We must ensure that along with India’s prosperity, our culture, and our economic growth, our defense capabilities and the spirit to fight for our national honor remain equally strong,” Singh said.
“This fighting spirit must stay alive in our civilization, in our nation.”
Reiterating India’s commitment to peace and collective progress, Rajnath said, “India’s approach is development and peace-oriented. For us, development is not about isolation, but about collective development that is what truly matters.”
Addressing the link between national security and sustainable development, Singh underlined the strategic importance of defence spending.
“If your defence system is strong, then no enemy or opponent will dare to even look at your prosperity or try to target it. Therefore, I would like to say to you all with full responsibility that ‘Defence expenditure is a part of development expenditure,” he said.
Emphasising that a weak security framework directly hampers progress, the Defence Minister said, “When the country’s security system is threatened, undoubtedly the country’s development takes a step back, the infrastructure gets damaged, and the lives and property of the citizens are harmed. Therefore, I believe that the expenditure on defense helps to avoid such losses”.
