Defence Minister Rajnath Singh  revealed that he wanted to join the Indian Army in his childhood. He even appeared for the examination to get into the forces but could not do so due to difficulties in his family.

Addressing the personnel of the Assam Rifles and 57th Mountain Division of the Indian Army in Imphal, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader shared his childhood story.

“I want to share a story from my childhood. I also wanted to join the Army, and once I appeared for the examination of the Short Service Commission. I gave the written exam. But, because of certain situations in my family, including the death of my father, I couldn’t join the Army,” Singh said.

He further said, “You will see, if you give the Army uniform to a kid, his personality changes. There is a charisma in this uniform.”Singh, accompanied by Army chief General Manoj Pande, visited the headquarters of the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South) in Mantripukhri in Manipur’s capital where they met the troops.

During his visit, Singh recounted the valour shown by the security forces during the India-China standoff.

“When the India-China standoff was going on, you may not know all the details, but I know and the army chief of that time knows the gallantry and courage shown by our jawans, the country will always be indebted to you,” he said.

The defence minister said that meeting army personnel gives him a sense of pride. “Wherever I go, I make sure that I meet armymen. When my Manipur visit was planned, I had asked (army chief) Pande-ji that I would like to meet the troops of Assam Rifles and the 57th Mountain Division,” Singh said.

“Although doctors, engineers and chartered accountants are contributing to the nation in one way or another, I believe your profession is more than a profession and more than a service,” he added.

Singh was on a two-day visit to Manipur.