Operation Sindoor reflects control, inner strength of troops, gained by practising yoga: Rajnath Singh
India's armed forces displayed restraint, balance and precision during Operation Sindoor, which is a reflection of their inner strength attained by practising yoga, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, speaking in Jammu and Kashmir where he celebrated the 11th International Day of Yoga on Saturday (June 21, 2025).
He performed various asanas and breathing exercises with approximately 2,500 soldiers of the Northern Command in Udhampur.
International Yoga Day updates: June 21, 2025
Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the global popularity of yoga, the Defence Minister said that the practice provides a holistic approach to health and well-being. Those who practice yoga in their daily lives have control over their body and mind, he said, adding that it makes the practitioner proactive, not reactive, and pointing to Operation Sindoor as a good example.
Sindoor not over yet
Claiming that India's social and communal unity was targeted through the Pahalgam terror attack, Mr. Singh said that Operation Sindoor was a clear message to Pakistan that it would face the consequences of supporting terror activities against India.
'Operation Sindoor is the natural progression of the surgical strike of 2016 and the air strike of 2019. It was executed in such a way that Pakistan requested for a ceasefire, and only then have we put a pause to the operation. As I have said earlier, Operation Sindoor is not over yet. India is fully prepared to take all kinds of action against terrorism,' Mr. Singh said.
He also asserted that Pakistan wants to weaken India from within, but it should never forget that just like Major Somnath Sharma, Brigadier Usman too sacrificed his life for the unity and integrity of the country.
Yoga's battlefield benefits
When the nation is celebrating the International Day of Yoga, people should remember the true meaning of the practice, which is to connect every section of society with the culture and soul of India, the Defence Minister said. 'If even one section is left behind, the wheel of unity and security is broken. Therefore, today, we should perform yoga at the level of society and thought, and not just body,' he added.
Yoga prepares a soldier physically and mentally and its benefits can be seen in the battlefield, he said, encouraging the soldiers to continue practicing it daily.
The event was attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Pratik Sharma.
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