Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday delivered a powerful address in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing debate on ‘Operation Sindoor,’ asserting that India’s decisive military action was a necessary and proportionate response to terrorism, not an act of provocation.
Opening the discussion, Singh declared, “A day will come when the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will say—yes, we are Indians.” His remarks were met with loud thumping of desks on the Treasury benches.
‘Operation Sindoor’: Not Provocation, But Self-Defence
Singh made it clear that the cross-border precision strikes—codenamed Operation Sindoor—were launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed seven Indian pilgrims.
“This was not provocation; it was self-defense,” the Defence Minister stated. “Our armed forces struck nine terror camps across the LoC, including those operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. Not a single Pakistani civilian was harmed. Our message to the world was clear—India will go to any extent to root out terrorism.”
He confirmed that the operation involved high-precision drone and missile strikes over two nights, with coordinated execution by the Indian Army, Air Force, and intelligence agencies. “Not a single Indian installation was hit. All enemy targets were neutralized with minimal collateral,” he added.
Operation Mahadev: Retaliation in Kashmir
Referring to the parallel domestic counter-terror operation—Operation Mahadev—Singh said, “Our forces eliminated the three terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam massacre. We do what we say.”
He lauded the intelligence agencies for providing real-time inputs and called it an example of “new-age warfare led by India’s brave hearts.”
A Turning Point in India’s Security Doctrine
Calling the operation a watershed moment, Singh said, “Operation Sindoor is not over—it’s paused.” He revealed that Pakistan, shaken by the scale of India’s retaliation, requested a ceasefire on May 10.
“We agreed but made it clear that if another attack occurs, the operation will resume immediately,” Singh warned. “Our armed forces have been given full freedom to act. From land to sea, we’re ready to respond with force and precision.”
He underlined India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and highlighted the global support India received for exercising its right to self-defence.
Call for National Unity and Opposition Cooperation
In a pointed message to the Opposition, Singh urged them to rise above politics. “Not a single Indian soldier was martyred. The entire country should be proud of our armed forces. This is not the time for division, but for solidarity,” he said.
On Pakistan, Trump’s Mediation Claim
Dismissing former US President Donald Trump’s claims of mediating peace, Singh revealed that Pakistan had reached out for a ceasefire only after India’s overwhelming offensive.
“Let the world know—we decide our security policy. We act, we don’t wait,” he stated.
PoK Will Reclaim Indian Identity
Reiterating India’s longstanding position on PoK, Singh ended his speech on a note of conviction and hope: “The people of PoK will one day return and embrace their Indian identity. That day is not far.”
He concluded by affirming that India’s commitment to peace remains intact, but any aggression will be met with a “befitting and unforgiving response.”
