Capt Amarinder exhorts youth to be ready to counter China’s military & economic challenges
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday exhorted the youth to be prepared to take on the military and economic challenges faced by India from neighbouring countries, particularly China.
Pointing out that India was being cornered by neighbouring countries, the Chief Minister said China, in particular, had strong economic and military ambitions, posing a new threat to our country and to our youth. He observed that there was no country which did not have Chinese presence, thus underlining the need for India to be on its guard 24X7, which the youth were best equipped to do.
Observing that India was passing through a highly demanding phase, the Chief Minister said while all citizens of the country had a responsibility to protect the nation, the future lay in the hands of the youth, especially since 70% of the country’s population was now under 40.
Future wars will be economic in nature, he warned, adding that the youth would have to carry the baton for safeguarding the nation’s interests. The Chief Minister noted that the northern region of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, bordering Pakistan and China, was in particular vulnerable to external threats, since it had hostile neighbours on all sides. This, he said, necessitated a proactive role by youth to ensure that the safety of these states and their people.
Captain Amarinder was addressing the 6th annual HT Youth Forum 2017, organised here by the Hindustan Times to facilitate young achievers from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Captain Amarinder said he was happy to see so many young achievers making a mark in different fields. All these achievers have something that makes them stand out, he said, lauding their contributions to the society in different ways. He was particularly appreciative of the NCC achievers and lauded their grit and courage in excelling in their field.
The Chief Minister spoke nostalgically of his Army days and expressed the confidence that today’s youth would also not be found wanting when it came to doing their duty for the country.
Captain Amarinder thanked former hockey player Balbir Singh and lauded his achievements, which had made him a youth icon.
He also appreciated the efforts of Hindustan Times in carrying forward the responsibility of encouraging and motivating youth towards higher levels of excellence in their respective fields through this initiative.
—PTC News
