Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that the nation is united and is standing with the forces.

In a rousing speech to over 1 crore Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and volunteers from 15,000 locations across the country today, the PM said that the world is witnessing the collective will of India.

“Is samay desh ki bhavnayein ek alag star par hain. Desh ka vir jawan seema par aur seema ke paar bhi apna parakram dikha raha hai (The emotions of the country are on a different level at the moment. The brave soldier of the country is showing his valour at the border and across the border),” Modi said,

“Pura desh ek hai aur hamare jawano ke saath khada hai. Duniya hamare collective will ko dekh rhi hai (The entire country is standing united and with the soldiers of the country. The world is witnessing our collective will),” he added.

“The enemy tries to destabilise us, carries out terror attacks, they want to stop our growth. We all countrymen are standing like a rock to counter their evil designs,” he said.

The PM added that the nation is confident of the capability of the armed forces.

“This is why it is very important that nothing should demoralise them or our enemies get to raise a finger on us,” the PM cautioned party workers.

“India is grateful to all those who are protecting the nation. It is because they are there, the nation can reach new levels of development,” he said, adding that there is need to be hard-working in all sectors.

The PM’s address to party workers was touted by the BJP as the “world’s largest video conference”.

The address came a day after an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot was captured by Pakistani Army after his MiG 21 Bison fighter aircraft was shot down in an aerial engagement with an F-16 of the Pakistani Air Force which had violated Indian airspace to target Indian military installations. The MEA later confirmed that a pilot was “missing in action”.

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Opposition leaders on Wednesday criticised the PM and the BJP for holding a party-related programme at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan are running high and a pilot is missing.

“Even when our pilot is missing, everything — even national security — is seen through the lens of public relations and votes. The BJP only knows the politics of distraction, lies, branding and marketing. Those who worship power will only be consumed by it,” tweeted Akhilesh Yadav just before the PM’s address today.

Urging the PM to postpone the address, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the nation’s energies and time should be utilised to bring the IAF pilot back safely and to sternly deal with Pakistan.

The violation by PAF happened a day after the IAF bombed a major terrorist training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Pakistan’s Balakot killing between 250-300 terrorists.

India on Wednesday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the “unprovoked act of aggression” against the country and “vulgar display” of an injured Indian pilot.

Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan Syed Hyder Shah was summoned to the foreign office this evening and firmly told that the Pakistani action was in contrast to India’s non-military anti-terror pre-emptive strike at a JeM terrorist camp in Balakot on Tuesday.

It was made clear to the Pakistani side that Islamabad would be well advised to ensure that no harm came to the Indian defence personnel in its custody. India also expected his immediate and safe return.

The External Affairs Ministry said India also strongly objected to Pakistan’s “vulgar display of an injured personnel of the Indian Air Force” in violation of all norms of the International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention.

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The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will later today chair the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting at his residence to take stock of the situation. A Union Cabinet meeting is also slated for 6.30 pm at the Prime Minister’s residence.

Discussions will be held on steps to bring back the captured IAF pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.