Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state executive meeting in Bihar on Wednesday, issued a strong warning that the Narendra Modi government will not hesitate to eliminate terrorists wherever they are located, making no distinction between the perpetrators and their sponsoring regimes. This firm message, widely interpreted as a direct warning to Pakistan, comes ahead of Bihar’s assembly elections later this year.
New Security Doctrine and Cross-Border Operations
Singh highlighted a significant shift in India’s security policy under the Modi government, citing actions such as surgical strikes and the Balakot airstrikes. He specifically referenced “Operation Sindoor,” a military operation following the Pahalgam terror attack, stating it marked the first time India struck terror hideouts 100 km beyond its borders. He clarified that these strikes exclusively targeted those who had attacked India, ensuring no civilians or military installations were harmed.
Focus on Indigenous Defence and Long-Term Vision
The Defence Minister also noted a sharp increase in India’s defence exports, attributing this growth to Prime Minister Modi’s emphasis on “swadeshikaran” (domestic production) and the “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) initiative. He contrasted the Modi government’s long-term strategic approach with what he described as the past Congress-led governments’ lack of direction and focus on “vote bank concerns.”
