India will respond firmly to any act of terror: Rajnath warns Pakistan from Lok Sabha
Opening a discussion on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha, the Defence Minister said "India has not only showcased its military capability but also demonstrated its national resolve, morality, and political acumen".
"Pakistan is a country built on double standards and falsehoods, and it is now being seen as a failed State. Through Operation Sindoor, India has shown the entire world that we are determined to eradicate the evil game of terrorism from its roots," he said.
He stated that Operation Sindoor symbolised India's strength, sending a clear message that "any harm to our citizens will not go unanswered."
Reiterating his point, he said that when it comes to national security, India's political leadership and system will act decisively, free from any external influence or hesitation.
'Our missiles will cross physical borders, and our courageous soldiers will crush the enemy's backbone,' he warned.
Reiterating that the Government is committed to eliminating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Rajnath Singh said, "In this context, there is an important point we must understand. Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is not random madness — there is a method to this madness. It is a well-planned strategy. It is driven by a 'fundamental rage.'
"Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is not an act of madness — it is part of a calculated conspiracy. It is a deliberate process that uses terror as a political tool. This is not merely terrorism; it is a toolkit — a toolkit actively employed by Pakistan's military and its agencies as a matter of policy. This toolkit stands in stark opposition to the civilised code of conduct that the rest of the world chooses to uphold. It is the product of a radical ideology that leaves no room for tolerance".
He asserted that terrorism has been institutionalised as a tool of its foreign policy. The world must no longer harbour any illusions about Pakistan's character, calling it a 'nursery of global terrorism.'
"The current situation in Pakistan is well-known. A nation that chooses to make terrorism a cornerstone of its foreign policy eventually becomes entangled in its own web," Singh stated.
Emphasising that Pakistan has consistently supported terror networks and elevated them to positions of national honour, Rajnath said, 'During Operation Sindoor, the world saw how Pakistan held state funerals for terrorists, with even military officers in attendance. This is the same country that lacks the courage to confront Indian soldiers at the border and instead targets innocent civilians, children, and pilgrims.'
He said that Pakistan's military and intelligence agency, the ISI, were using terrorism as a proxy war to destabilise India.
'I say this from the temple of democracy that those who dream of inflicting a 'thousand cuts' on India must wake up. This is the new India under Prime Minister Modi's leadership — an India that will go to any extent to fight terrorism.'
He said, "A country like Pakistan, which is nowhere near us in terms of size, capability, strength, and prosperity—how can there be a competition with such a nation? Competing with a country that relies on others for its very existence means lowering our own standards. Our policy is to take effective action against terrorism. Our opposition to Pakistan stems from their policy of terrorism".
The Defence Minister further said, "If we know how to extend a hand for the hope of peace, we also know how to uproot the hands that spread unrest. If we know how to make efforts for peace, we also know how to explain in the language that the wicked understand".
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