Terrorism Pakistan’s war strategy, will be replied to accordingly: PM

Visiting his home state for the first time after Operation Sindoor, the PM said, “Whenever an occasion of war with Pakistan occurred, India’s military power made Pakistan bite the dust on all three occasions. And Pakistan understood that it cannot win in a fight against India. And therefore, it started a proxy war. Military trained terrorists are sent to India and innocent, unarmed people — someone out on pilgrimage, someone on a bus, someone sitting in a hotel, someone who has come as a tourist — were kept being killed wherever they (terrorists) got an opportunity. And we kept tolerating it.”

He then asked the audience if such things should be tolerated anymore and whether a befitting reply be given or not. The audience replied in huge affirmation.

“So far they used to call it a proxy war. (But) After the visuals that were seen after May 6, we cannot make a mistake of calling it a proxy war,” Modi said, adding that nine terror camps were identified and decimated within 22 minutes.

“I say it cannot be called proxy war because the funeral processions (of terrorists) that were carried out after their killing were given state honour in Pakistan. Pakistan flags were put on their coffins. Their military saluted them. It proves that a terror activity is not a proxy war, but your well thought-out war strategy. You are indeed doing a war. And it will be replied to accordingly,” Modi said.

Terrorism a thorn since 1947’

Calling terrorism a thorn which has been hurting India since Independence in 1947, Modi said that India has resolved to remove the thorn.

“No matter how healthy a body is, if a thorn hurts then the entire body remains in pain. We have decided that we will remove the thorn,” the PM said.

He added, “In 1947…the country was cut into two pieces. And the same night, the first terror attack was launched on the land of Kashmir. One part of mother India was usurped by Pakistan by the force of terrorists and in the name of Mujahideens. ..It was the wish of Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel that the (Indian) military should not stop till PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) is won back. But Sardar Saheb’s opinion was not agreed upon and these Mujahideens tasted the blood and it has continued for 75 years. What happened in Pahalgam was also a perverted form of it. We kept tolerating it for 75 years.”

Of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Indus Treaty

The PM said India’s character is marked by the values of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and it wants happiness for the neighbours.

“But when our capability is challenged repeatedly then this country is also a land of bravehearts,” Modi said.

The PM also spoke on the Indus Water Treaty which India has put in abeyance after the terror attack in Pahalgam.

“I want to tell the new generation how the country has been ruined. If you go into the minute details of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, you will be surprised. It was decided that cleaning will not be done on the dams built on rivers in J&K; desilting will not be done and the downstream gates will not be opened. The gates were not opened for 60 years. And (the dams) which should have been filled 100% with water, its capacity gradually decreased, going down to 2-3%. Don’t my countrymen have rights over water? Should they get their rightful water or not?” Modi said.

He further said, “So far, I have not done anything more. So far, we have said that we have kept it (the Indus treaty) in abeyance. And there they are sweating. And we started cleaning by slightly opening the (gates of the) dams…Merely by that there is flood there.”Modi had reached Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre after carrying out a roadshow in Gandhinagar. On Monday, Modi visited Vadodara, Dahod and Bhuj and carried out three roadshows. He said that everywhere he is seeing overwhelming patriotism among people while calling it “Sindooriya Sagar”.

The PM said this India does not want enmity with anyone and that it wants to contribute to the welfare of the world. He mentioned how India has become the fourth largest economy in the world, rising from 11th position in 2014 when he took over for the first time despite natural calamities such as Covid-19 and difficulties with neighbouring countries.

Modi said that the Operation Sindoor which was started by Sainya Bal (military power) will now be moved forward by Jan Bal (people’s power) to make India developed by 2047. In this context, Modi asked people to shun foreign goods and use only indigenous goods.

“If the country has to be saved, if the country is to be built, if the country is to progress then Operation Sindoor is not just the responsibility of soldiers. Operation Sindoor is the responsibility of 140 crore citizens,” he said.

Modi congratulated Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel for celebrating 2025 as Urban Development Year and suggested to draw a plan for the 75th foundation day of Gujarat in 2035. He talked at length on various urban development initiatives during his tenure as Gujarat CM without “caring much about its electoral outcomes”.

Apart from Patel, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Union energy minister Manohar Lal Khattar among others were also present during the occasion.