Rajnath Singh: Operation Sindoor Proves India’s Resolve, Hyderabad Honoured

Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh delivered a powerful address during the Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations in Telangana on September 17, 2025, asserting that India’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness. He emphasized that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, New India stands for peace but responds with hard power when necessary.

India’s Policy of Strength and Resolve

Highlighting India’s decisive actions against cross-border terrorism, Shri Singh recalled three landmark military operations:

• Operation Sindoor (2024) – a targeted strike that destroyed terror hideouts in Pakistan and PoK.

• 2016 Surgical Strike – retaliation against Uri attacks, showcasing India’s swift military precision.

• 2019 Balakot Air Strike – India’s deep-penetration aerial attack following the Pulwama terror attack.

“These operations prove that India’s patience is its strength, not a weakness,” Shri Singh said. “When dialogue fails, India knows how to strike at the heart of terror.”

Operation Sindoor: A Message of Accountability

Shri Singh strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror killings and credited the Indian Armed Forces for avenging innocent lives during Operation Sindoor. He drew a sharp distinction:

• “Terrorists killed based on dharma, but our soldiers retaliated based on karma,” he declared.

He also clarified that the operation was paused for strategic reasons, but India would not hesitate to resume full-scale action if Pakistan-sponsored terrorism continues. Rejecting external interference, he stressed:

“No third party can intervene in India’s internal matters or dictate our ceasefire decisions.”

Remembering Sardar Patel and Hyderabad’s Liberation

Shri Rajnath Singh paid glowing tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, describing him as the “Iron Man” whose courage and vision united the nation. He recalled Operation Polo (1948), which ended the Razakars’ resistance and merged Hyderabad with India.

“Operation Polo was not just a military mission—it was Sardar Patel’s decisive strike against division, proving to the world that India has always had the will and power to defend its unity,” Shri Singh said.

Drawing parallels between 1948 and today, he remarked:

• “Just as the Razakars’ conspiracy collapsed then, Pakistan’s terror networks have failed today. Operation Sindoor is proof that India’s unity and diversity remain our greatest strength.”

Linking Legacy with Today’s Leadership

The Defence Minister also highlighted a symbolic connection: Hyderabad Liberation Day coincides with Prime Minister Modi’s birthday (17th September). He said both Sardar Patel and PM Modi share a vision of strengthening India culturally, socially, spiritually, and economically.

He credited PM Modi with transforming India into a global powerhouse, noting:

“Today, India does not take dictation from anyone. It writes its own script. Soon, we will be the world’s third-largest economy.”

Exhibition and Participation of Leaders

As part of the commemoration, Shri Rajnath Singh visited the Hyderabad Liberation Day Photo Exhibition, organised by the Central Bureau of Communication, Hyderabad, which showcased archival images and stories of Hyderabad’s merger with India.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including:

• Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism

• Shri G Kishan Reddy, Minister for Coal & Mines

• Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Minister of State for Home Affairs

New India’s Message to the World

Shri Rajnath Singh’s speech resonated with themes of strength, sovereignty, and national pride, reminding citizens that India’s security forces remain ever-vigilant. He underlined that New India, while committed to peace, will not hesitate to use decisive force against threats.

The Hyderabad Liberation Day event thus served as both a tribute to the past and a message for the future—India will defend its unity, honour its heroes, and chart its own path as a confident global power.