New Delhi: Stating that offering milk to "snakes" may be appropriate on the occasion of 'Nag Panchami' today, but not every day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor against cross-border terrorism will continue without a "full stop." Singh made it clear that India would no longer tolerate cross-border terrorism under any pretext, including nuclear threats from Pakistan.
"I would like to say that today is Nag Panchami. On the day of Nag Panchami, it is appropriate to offer milk to snakes, but not every day. Our vision is that Operation Sindoor continues steadily. There may be pauses in between, but there will never be a full stop," Singh said in the Rajya Sabha.
Nag Panchami is a traditional Hindu festival marked by the worshipping of (nagas) snakes.
Criticising those who advocate 'only negotiation' with Pakistan, Singh said, "Some people think that since Pakistan has nuclear weapons, we should only negotiate with them. Because of this nuclear bluff, we have lost countless civilians. Our vision is that we will respond (appropriately) to a brick with a stone." He challenged the Opposition to present a clear alternative to the government's action. "If the opposition feels that we did not do the right thing by conducting Operation Sindoor, then I invite them to tell the public what their alternative action plan is. When the sindoor of our mothers and sisters has been wiped away, should we engage in diplomatic talks with Pakistan? Should we hand over dossiers to Pakistan? Should we go to international organisations and just talk?" Singh asked.
He claimed that the current government had eliminated over 100 terrorists during Operation Sindoor. "If viewed in the context of Operation Sindoor, when the sindoor of our 25 Indian mothers and sisters was destroyed, our government did what it deemed appropriate, and we took down more than 100 terrorists." Singh also accused previous governments of failing to act decisively, which, he said, encouraged terrorist groups to see India as a soft target. "Terrorists had considered India a soft state. For them, carrying out a terrorist attack on India had become a kind of low-cost and high-return affair. Two or four of their novice recruits would come, harm our citizens, and leave. Previous governments quietly watched this spectacle," he said.
Referring to game theory, the Defence Minister said, "Pakistan and terrorists have always kept India as their target. But under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have ensured that we will change this pay-off calculus for Pakistan and make terrorism a high-cost venture for them." Highlighting the shift in India's defence posture, he added, "The significance of Operation Sindoor in terms of the future is that the Indian citizen is no longer a vulnerable citizen of a soft country, but an ordinary Indian is now a proud citizen of a strong state." He also quoted religious texts to argue that India's cultural heritage never promoted weakness. "Goswami Tulsidas Ji says at one place, 'Tulsi mastak tab nave, jab dhanush baan leu haath...' meaning, O Lord, you may be ever so beautiful, charming, and gentle. That is very good. But Tulsi's forehead will bow before you only when you hold the bow and arrow. There came a time when Hindustanis were considered weak, but now we are redefining our identity, and Operation Sindoor is an example of that," he said.
"I am using the word re-discovery instead of discovery here because, if you look at it from mythological times, our Gods and Goddesses... have always wielded weapons and destroyed their enemies. They have never taught us the lesson of cowardice," Singh added.
Earlier during his address, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the Indian Army and security forces for the success of Operation Sindoor, saying the operation was carefully planned to target terrorists while ensuring no harm to ordinary citizens in Pakistan.
He also congratulated the forces for killing three TRF terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that they were from the same group that had "brutally killed 26 innocent and blameless people" in Pahalgam on April 22.
Speaking during a special discussion on the operation in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said, "I congratulate the Indian Army and other security forces through this House for their success in eliminating three TRF terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. This is the same TRF whose terrorists brutally killed 26 innocent and blameless people in the Poonch area on April 22." He said the aim of the Operation Sindoor was to eliminate terrorist hideouts and reinforce India's zero-tolerance on terrorism. "The purpose of this operation was to destroy terrorist hideouts and to send a clear message that India maintains zero tolerance against terrorism," Singh said.
The Defence Minister noted that the operation was based on detailed planning. "Before executing Operation Sindoor, our forces thoroughly studied every aspect. We had several options. But we chose the option that would cause maximum damage to terrorists and their bases while ensuring no harm to Pakistan's ordinary citizens," he said.
Singh also praised the armed forces for their overall contribution to national security. "The role of our armies and other security forces in ensuring India's internal and external security cannot be praised enough," he added.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Lok Sabha that Lashkar-e-Taiba's top commander Suleman, involved in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, was among three terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev, also conducted in Jammu and Kashmir.
"In the Operation Mahadev, Suleman alias Faizal..., Afghan and Jibran, these three terrorists were killed in a joint operation of the Indian Army, CRPF and J&K Police... Suleman was an A-category commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Afghan was an A-category Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist. And Jibran was also an A-grade terrorist... All three terrorists who killed our citizens in the Baisaran valley have been eliminated...," Shah said during the second debate on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha.
He added, "All three terrorists - Suleman, Afghan and Jibran - were killed in yesterday's operation. The people who used to supply food to them were detained earlier. Once the bodies of these terrorists were brought to Srinagar, they were identified by those who were kept detained by our agencies." Shah said that those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack had been neutralised. "In a joint Operation Mahadev, the Indian Army, CRPF, and J&K Police have neutralised three terrorists who were involved in the Pahalgam terror attack," he told the House.
"Innocent civilians were killed in front of their families by asking their religion. I condemn this barbaric act. I express my sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones," Shah added.
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