Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, July 29: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted on Tuesday that no world leader from any country had asked India to stop “Operation Sindoor” and the ceasefire between the two countries on May 10 was purely at the request of Pakistan which was brought to its knees by stern and precise military actions by the Indian armed forces.
Intervening in the debate in the Lok Sabha on the Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack on Tuesday, Mr Modi lashed out at the Opposition and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who asked why he had not contested US President Donald Trump’s repeated claim of getting India and Pakistan to agree to a ceasefire.
Revealing these details, the Prime Minister recalled, “We had said from day one that our action was non-escalatory. No leader in the world asked us to stop Operation Sindoor. On the night of May 9, US Vice President JD Vance tried to talk to me. He tried for an hour, but I was busy in a meeting with the forces. When I called him back, he told me Pakistan was planning a big attack. My answer was that if this is Pakistan’s intention, it will have to pay a heavy price.”
“If Pakistan attacks, we will respond with a big attack. I said “ham goli ka jawaab gole se denge” (we will reply to a bullet with a cannonball). On May 10, we destroyed Pakistan’s military strength. This was our response and our resolve. Even Pakistan understands now that every reply by India is bigger than the last. It knows that if such a situation arises in the future, India can go to any extent. Let me reiterate in this temple of democracy: Operation Sindoor is still on,” he stressed.
He said India had decisively exposed Pakistan’s vulnerabilities. “Terrorist launchpads were destroyed. Sites like Bahawalpur and Muridke, where no one imagined we could strike, have been hit hard. Pakistan’s airbases and assets have suffered major damage. Many of their installations are still in ICU,” the Prime Minister said.
Highlighting India’s defence preparedness, Mr Modi said the strikes showcased the country’s growing technological capabilities. “From drones to missiles, our entire operation was powered by Made-in-India systems. The world is witnessing the strength of a self-reliant India,” he said.
After the attack on terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir on May 7, the PM said, India made it clear its objective had been achieved. It was only when Pakistan stepped in to defend terrorists that the Indian armed forces taught the country a lesson it would remember for years.
“On May 9 and 10, our missiles hit every corner of Pakistan, something they had never even dreamed of. This brought Pakistan to its knees. It was after this that Pakistan called the Indian DGMO and pleaded: ‘Bas karo, bahut maara, ab zyada maar jhelne ki taakat nahin hai. Please hamla rok do’ (Stop this. You have hit us hard, we can’t take it anymore. Please stop the attack). India had made it clear on May 7 itself that its objectives had been met. This had been decided in conjunction with the forces that our objectives were terrorists and their bosses,” PM Modi said.
In the four days beginning May 7, Pakistan fired 1,000 drones and missiles at India, the Prime Minister said, adding that all of them were destroyed in the air. “Terrorists are crying, their bosses and backers are crying and, seeing them cry, some people are mourning here as well,” the PM said mockingly, in a clear attack on the opposition. The Congress, he said, had raised the bogey of “saffron terror” and tried to defame the country.
Ripping through the Congress, Mr Modi said, “We had the support of the world but, sadly, not from the Congress.” The PM’s criticism followed comments by the Congress’ P Chidambaram, who earlier this week questioned the government’s statement that the Pahalgam terrorists were from Pakistan and that the attack, which killed 26 people, most of whom were civilians, was orchestrated by the Pak deep state. It also followed a combative speech by the Congress’ Rahul Gandhi just minutes earlier where he accused the government of having yielded control of Indian foreign policy to the American president Donald Trump.
“There has been a lot of discussion on foreign policy and the global support India received after Pahalgam and Op Sindoor… but the truth is no country in the world stopped India from acting to protect itself. In fact, out of 193 countries only three supported Pakistan,” the Prime Minister said. “India got support from the entire world…no world leader asked India to stop… but it is unfortunate the Congress did not support the valour of our soldiers,” the Prime Minister regretted.
He also hit out at the opposition for trying to attack him personally to make political gains out of the killing of innocent tourists in the Pahalgam terror attack. “After April 22… within three-four days… they were saying ‘kahan gayi 56-inch ka seena‘ (a reference to the opposition’s ’56-inch chest’ jibe at the PM) and ‘Modi has failed’… their statements were demoralising the forces. They don’t trust the forces and that is why they were questioning Op Sindoor.”
Mr Modi was relentless in his attack on the Congress, also claiming the opposition party had ‘changed its tune after realising the people of India were in complete support of the armed forces.’ “India’s armed forces conducted surgical strikes… and the Congress sought proof from the armed forces,” the PM raged, referring to comments by some other opposition leaders, including ex-Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, about the lack of photographic evidence of the precision strikes against terror camps and bases in Pakistan in 2016 and 2019, after attacks in J&K’s Uri and Pulwama.
Before the PM began his speech Rahul Gandhi critiqued the government for its handling of the Pahalgam terror attack and Op Sindoor, stating the Modi administration lacked “political will.” Mr Gandhi also criticised the government over the lunch meeting between Trump and Pak Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and demanded to know why the PM had not shut down his American counterpart’s repeated claims of negotiating the India-Pak ceasefire after Op Sindoor.
The Prime Minister noted that India called out Pakistan’s nuclear bluff and showed the world that “we will not bow down to nuclear blackmail.” “Our operations range from Sindoor to Sindhu (Indus Waters Treaty)… Pakistan knows they have to pay a huge price for any misadventure. Terror attacks were launched earlier and the masterminds of attacks knew nothing would happen, but now they know India will come for them.” PM Modi said drones and missiles made in India exposed the capabilities of Pakistani arms and ammunition during the military operation.
“The world saw the strength of self-reliant India during Operation Sindoor. We destroyed terror sites deep inside Pakistan within 22 minutes to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack,” he said. Mr Modi noted that Pakistan had some inkling of Indian action and had started issuing nuclear threats, but could do nothing when terror targets were hit.
“The Congress and its allies have unfortunately become spokespersons of Pakistani propaganda. India is becoming self-reliant, but Congress is now dependent on Pakistan for issues. The entire country is amazed to see Congress give a clean chit to Pakistan and sing the same tune as theirs.
Mr Modi said, “It (Pahalgam attack) was a conspiracy to instigate riots in India and the country’s unity foiled that attempt. When I speak of this Parliament session being a Vijayotsav (celebration of victory), it is of destroying the headquarters of terror.” “I stand here to make a case for India, and to show a mirror to those who do not understand this. I had said we will teach the terrorists and their masters a befitting lesson which will be beyond their imagination.
“We have complete trust in the capabilities of our armed forces and they were given a free hand to respond. The armed forces taught them such a lesson that the masters of terrorism are still losing their sleep over it,” he added.
Mr Modi also warned that Pakistan would face consequences for any further provocations. “Operation Sindoor is not over. It will continue for as long as necessary. India will decide the terms and on its own timeline and on its own terms,” Modi said.
Without naming the Congress directly, he took a swipe at the Opposition for questioning the mission. “At a time when our forces are engaged in a battle of resolve, some are playing politics. Today’s warfare includes narratives and information. Weakening the morale of our troops through misinformation helps the enemy,” he said.