India's international stature has grown after Narendra Modi became PM: Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh. File Pic

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said India's international stature has grown after Narendra Modi became prime minister and attacked the Congress government in Rajasthan over recruitment exam paper leaks and law-and-order situation, reported news agency PTI.

Anyone who can't give security to mothers and sisters has no right to rule, he said while referring to the Ashok Gehlot government at an election rally in Shahpura, reported PTI.

Singh said elections are fought not only to form government but also to build the society and country. "Government should not be run based on caste, creed and religion but should be run based on humanity," he said, reported PTI.

The defence minister said that "Bharat is no longer weak and the world listens carefully to what it says", reported PTI.

"India's international stature has grown after Narendra Modi became prime minister," Singh added, reported PTI.

Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday held a telephonic conversation with his British counterpart Grant Shapps, focusing on ways to develop deeper India-UK cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The defence ministry said Singh and Shapps briefly reviewed the ongoing bilateral defence engagements and discussed possible cooperation in new domains.

"Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps on November 13. Both ministers discussed a range of defence and security issues with particular emphasis on the Indo-Pacific," it said.

"They briefly reviewed the ongoing engagements and discussed possible cooperation in new domains," the ministry said in a statement.

Singh and Shapps explored ways and means to develop closer defence relations, it said.

"Grant Shapps invited the defence minister to visit the UK in the near future. The defence minister congratulated Shapps on his appointment as the Secretary of State for Defence," it said.

Shapps was appointed as the defence secretary in August, replacing Ben Wallace.

Later, in a post on 'X', Singh said he and Shapps discussed a range of defence and security related issues.

"Had a telephonic conversation with the UK Secretary of State for Defence Mr Grant Shapps. We discussed a range of defence and security related issues with particular emphasis on the Indo-Pacific," he said.

The phone conversation between Singh and Shapps came amid the ongoing visit.

(With inputs from PTI)