Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted on Friday that India will never compromise on its pride and dignity and is ready to cross any border necessary to safeguard its unity, integrity, and citizens. He cited the 2016 Surgical Strike, the 2019 Balakot Airstrike, and the recent “Operation Sindoor” as clear proof of the NDA government’s decisive capability.
Speaking at the ‘JITO Connect’ event organised by the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) in Hyderabad, the Union Minister stated, “When it comes to India’s glory and dignity, we never compromised. Whether it is 2016 surgical strike, 2019 airstrike or 2025 Operation Sindoor, we have proved that we will cross any borders, whenever there is a need, for the cause of India’s unity and integrity and for protecting the life of every citizen and the country.”
Singh highlighted that the government’s military response is targeted and value-driven, recalling the terrorist attack in Pahalgam where innocent people were killed after being identified by their religion. He stressed that in response, India did not see religion but only targeted terrorist centres.
“The government only targeted terrorist centres to punish those responsible for the Pahalgam terrorist attack. We never attacked any military or civilian establishment there. If we wanted, we could have done that earlier, but we did not,” the Defence Minister said.
Operation Sindoor & Focus on Values
“Operation Sindoor,” launched in the early hours of May 7, involved precision strikes by Indian Defence Forces on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives. The strikes reportedly killed over 100 terrorists.
The Minister further clarified that the central government’s efforts to boost both military and economic power are not aimed at achieving global domination. Instead, he said the focus is on safeguarding the ideals rooted in religion, faith, and human values, which align with the teachings of Bhagwan Mahavir.
Self-Reliance and Economic Growth
The Defence Minister also highlighted India’s rapid progress towards self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta) and becoming a global manufacturing hub. He noted a continuous decline in dependence on foreign countries for defence equipment.
“The country is now producing a wide range of products, from toys to tanks,” he said, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of ‘local for global’ and ‘vocal for local’. Singh expressed confidence that India is moving fast to become the ‘factory of the world.’