Central govt depts in race to hail Op Sindoor. From e-tickets to prabhat pheris & word of caution
Operation Sindoor was a precision strike carried out 7 May by the Indian armed forces in response to the 22 April Pahalgam attack in which 26 civilians were killed by terrorists.
New Delhi: From holding 'prabhat pheris' (morning procession) at railway stations and issuing e-tickets with picture of PM Modi saluting, illuminating platforms with tricolour lights to urging educational institutions to undertake Rashtra Pratham campaign, the different wings of central government ministries are going all out to celebrate the success of Operation Sindoor.
Among the central government ministries, while railways has roped in teams of scout and guides of National Cadet Corps (NCC), railways' associations and passenger associations to hold prabhat pheris and tiranga yatras in railway stations, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has issued guidelines to all its affiliated institutions urging them to extend unwavering support to the armed forces, the government, and national security agencies.
It's not just prabhat pheris and tiranga yatras. All e-tickets issued by the railways in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor now carries a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluting, along with a quote from his address to the nation: 'Operation Sindoor ne atank ke khilaf ladai me ek nayi lakeer kheench di hai…. Ek naya paimana, new normal tai kar diya hai (Operation Sindoor has drawn a new line against war on terror… it is the new normal against terrorism).'
A Tiranga Yatra was held at Pune Railway Station by Pune Division, Central Railway, showing solidarity with our brave soldiers. Railway staff participated in this event to honour the armed forces.#TirangaYatra #OperationSindoor#PuneDivision pic.twitter.com/aNovBirC6L
— DRM Pune (@drmpune) May 15, 2025
A senior railway ministry official told ThePrint the initiatives were voluntary. 'Different railway and passenger associations have come together to hold prabhat pheris in the morning and tiranga yatra in the evening at select railway stations. We also decided that in the evening we will light up the tricolour lights at 200 select stations for three days,' the official said.
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AICTE kickstarts Rashtra Pratham campaign
The AICTE, the national regulator for technical education, issued a circular 16 May addressing its over 5,000 affiliated institutions, sharing a set of guidelines under the campaign titled 'Rashtra Pratham: A Campaign in Support of Nation First.'
'The higher education institutions may help the nation by creating positive opinions, countering rumors and orienting the communities in and around campuses to respond confidently to any national disaster and crisis,' the guidelines state.
The advisory also cautions against internal discord: 'Avoid internal blame games and divisive discussions. The enemy may attempt to create internal chaos, incite riots, or stoke communal tensions. Do NOT engage in communal debates or allow divisive narratives to fester. In case of any local disturbance, prioritize safety and immediately inform authorities.'
Institutions have also been advised to report any suspicious activity, unidentified objects, or potential threats to local law enforcement. 'Your timely action can save lives,' the guidelines state.
The Council has advised higher education institutions to make both students and staff aware of the risks of disinformation, urging them to stay informed only through official channels of the local administration, state, or the central government.
'Avoid adding noise to the information ecosystem by speculating or spreading unverified updates. Do not forward, share, or believe any unverified content circulating on social media and messaging platforms,' the guidelines state.
(With inputs from Moushumi Das Gupta)
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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