Abhinandan Will Have A New Meaning Now, Says PM Narendra Modi A Day After IAF Pilot's Return From Pakistan

Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was released by Pakistan on Friday night amid cheers and tears of joy at the Wagah border. A day after his release, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the word 'Abhinandan' will now have a different meaning altogether making a veiled reference to the events that unfolded in the past few days.

Speaking at the 'Construction Technology India 2019' in the capital, PM Modi said, "Hindustan jo bhi karega, duniya use gaur se dekhti hai. Is desh ki takat hai ki dictionary ke shabdon ke arth badal deta hai. Kabhi '#Abhinandan' ka angrezi hota tha 'Congratulation', ab 'Abhinandan' ka arth badal jaayega. (Whatever India does, world watches it closely¡­.It is the power of this nation that it changes the meaning of words. Abhinandan used to mean congratulation, now Abhinandan will have a new meaning.)", he said.

PM Modi at 'Construction Techonolgy India'19' in Delhi: Hindustan jo bhi karega, duniya use gaur se dekhti hai. Is desh ki takat hai ki dictionary ke shabdon ke arth badal deta hai. Kabhi '#Abhinandan' ka angrezi hota tha 'Congratulation', ab 'Abhinandan' ka arth badal jaayega. pic.twitter.com/vit3RTCXBS

¡ª ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2019

IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was in Pakistan Army¡¯s custody since Wednesday morning after his aircraft crash-landed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following an aerial dogfight with the jets of Pakistan Air Force.

ANI

Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. It came 12 days after the JeM claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers.