At Agenda Aaj Tak, Army Chief Bipin Rawat spoke about PM Modi's demonetisation drive and how it helped the armed forces in dealing with terrorism. He also talked about how youths in Kashmir are being radicalised.

Army Chief Bipin Rawat at Agenda Aaj Tak talked about terrorism, Pakistan, procurement of arms and ammunition, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation drive. Rawat was addressing a session titled 'Takhat Vatan Ki Tumse Hai'.

Rawat said, "If our armed forces are killing terrorists, our soldiers are too being killed and it comes as a great loss. We do it for the protection of our country and its people."

He talked about how terrorists change their strategies and how the Indian Army has to be two steps ahead of them to render them useless in their evil endeavours.

Rawat also talked about cross-border infiltration and terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. Talking about radicalisation of the youths, he said, "youth in Kashmir are an easy target for terror outfits when it comes to radicalisation."

When asked about cases of theft of weapons from Indian armed forces and terrorists robbing banks in the Valley, Rawat said that such scenarios appear because terrorists are having a tough time after PM Modi's demonetisation drive. Terrorists are failing to buy weapons and their arsenal of arms has taken a hit after last year's note ban.

Speaking about terrorist Hafiz Saeed, he said that the aim of the Indian Army is to bring down top-level leaders and terror organisations. He added that soon one day they shall accomplish this feat.

On the recent news of a Kashmir footballer, who picked up arms to join Lashkar-e-Taiba and then surrendered himself after his mother's emotional plea, Bipin Rawat said, "the radicalisation tricks them into picking up weapons, but our armed forces are always ready to rehabilitate these misguided young folks."

He appealed to the youth to put forward their demands and problems using India's political system adding that wielding arms is not the way to go about it.Talking about China and the Doklam issue and if China is a bigger enemy than Pakistan, Bipin Rawat said that our strategies, be it our forces or the external affairs ministry, paid off and peace reigns over the border.

When Rawat was asked about the present government's involvement into the activities of the armed forces, he said, "the present government provides freedom for operations and it gives more support to the armed forces. Army strategies and government policies work in synergy."

Talking about arms and ammunition procurement, Rawat said that the forces have to rely on import sometimes and it delays the process. He added that there is a need to set up flourishing indigenous industries which will also help the Make in India initiative prosper.

He spoke about why the Indian Army has no right to disrupt its work and go on a strike. According to him, the soldiers have a duty towards the nation and it also reflects in their discipline upon the entire nation and its people.

Rawat also spoke about the Indian Flag Day. The India Today Group too donned the flag to support the enthusiasm regarding the same before the session ended.