- Operation Sindoor is proof that Govt has transformed India’s security apparatus by changing attitude towards national security issues: Defence Minister
- Rajnath Singh urges international community to put strategic, diplomatic & economic pressure on Pakistan to deal with terrorism
- India is protecting its borders and creating a system which is making it strategically, economically & technically strong: DM
- Rs 1.75 lakh crore defence production & Rs 30,000 crore defence exports targets set for this year: Rajnath
NE NEWS SERVICE
DEHRADUN, JUNE 10
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the Pahalgam terror strike was not just an attack on our people but also an assault on the social unity of India, as he asserted that Operation Sindoor carried out in retaliation was the “biggest action” taken against terrorism in India’s history.
In his address at an event in Dehradun, he also said that terrorists killed people in Pahalgam asking their religion but “we didn’t ask their ‘dharm’ (religion) but hit back seeing their ‘karm’ (deeds)”.
“In the last 11 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government has transformed India’s security apparatus by changing the attitude and the way of action towards every issue related to national security, and the world witnessed this shift during Operation Sindoor,” said Rajnath Singh while addressing a dialogue on the topic ‘National Security & Terrorism’, organised in Dehradun, Uttarakhand on Tuesday.
Singh said in the last 11 years, the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has bolstered the circle of national security.
“On every matter related to national security, we have changed both attitude and way of action of the government. The world saw this change during the recent Operation Sindoor,” he said.
“Terrorists are not fighters with a cause. No religious, ideological or political reason can justify terrorism. No human objective can ever be achieved through bloodshed and violence. India and Pakistan attained independence at the same time, but today, India has been recognised as the Mother of Democracy, while Pakistan has emerged as the Father of Global Terrorism. Pakistan has always given shelter to terrorists, trained them on its soil and helped them. It always tries to justify this menace. It is important that we eliminate these terrorists and their entire infrastructure,” said Rajnath Singh.
He urged the international community to stop foreign funding to Pakistan, saying that a large part of this financial aid is spent on terrorism. “Funding Pakistan means funding the infrastructure of terrorism. Pakistan is a nursery of terrorism. It should not be nourished,” he added.
Rajnath Singh listed out the steps taken by the Government to strengthen the defence sector, including increasing the defence budget from Rs 2.53 lakh crore in Financial Year (FY) 2013-14 to Rs 6,22 lakh crore in FY 2024-25; reserving 75% of the budget for capital procurement from domestic companies and the issuance of a total of 10 Positive Indigenisation Lists, comprising over 5,500 items. “Today, Indian Armed Forces use state-of-the-art weapons, missiles, tanks and other systems/platforms manufactured within the country. Our indigenous missiles such as Agni, Prithvi & BrahMos stand ready to give a befitting reply to the enemy. We also have the strength to build aircraft carriers such as INS Vikrant,” he added.
He underlined that the Government’s persistent efforts are bearing fruit as the annual defence production, which was around Rs 40,000 crore in 2014, has crossed the record figure of Rs 1.30 lakh crore today, and defence exports, which were Rs 686 crore in 14, has skyrocketed to Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024-25, adding that Made-in-India defence products are being exported to nearly 100 countries. “We have set a target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore defence production this year and Rs three lakh crore by 2029. Our defence exports should reach Rs 30,000 crore this year and Rs 50,000 crore by 2029,” he said.
SRajnath Singh termed the media as a “watchdog” when the issue of national security is not only concerned with borders, but is now a challenge in cyber and social sectors. “Journalism is not just a profession but a national duty. It informs while keeping us alert and vigilant towards the security of the country. A free and healthy journalism is a stabilising force that makes the society alert, unites it and spreads consciousness,” he said.
On April 22, terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam in south Kashmir.
India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack.
All subsequent retaliations to Pakistani offensives were carried out under this operation.
Singh termed it as “big and tough action” by India in response.
“This (Operation Sindoor) was the biggest action taken against terrorism in Indian history, I can say firmly say this,” he said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was among the dignitaries who attended the event.
