Army jawans patrol near the Line of Control (LOC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. (File photo)
Pakistan has violated the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir 19 times since the new government took over and the Indian side retaliated appropriately in each case, Parliament was informed today.
"Our head has not bowed... This government will not let our heads bow," Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said replying to questions in Rajya Sabha.
The minister's statement came when Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said that before Narendra Modi took office as PM, he used to accuse the government led by Dr Manmohan Singh of being "weak" in its responses to Pakistan's infractions.
Mr Azad asked why the new government has "bowed" to recurring ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
Defence Minister Jaitley recalled that during the first meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on May 27, he had underlined the importance of upholding the border ceasefire.
"Our Prime Minister further emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility at the borders and upholding the sanctitiy of the Line of Control," he said about the meeting that took place a day after the new government took over.