Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today sent out a strong message to India’s enemies, declaring that India’s patience should never be mistaken for weakness. Speaking at the Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations, Singh highlighted Operation Sindoor, the 2016 Surgical Strike, and the 2019 Balakot Air Strike as proof of India’s strategic strength and decisive will.

“Operation Sindoor, the 2016 Surgical Strike, and the 2019 Balakot Air Strike are proof that India’s patience is its strength, not weakness, and we choose the path of hard power when negotiations fail to yield any solution,” Singh asserted in Hyderabad, Telangana.

The Defence Minister made it clear that while India believes in peace and dialogue, it will not hesitate to deliver a befitting reply when tested. “A strong and resolute New India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, knows how to respond to those who fail to understand the language of peace and goodwill,” he declared.

On Operation Sindoor, Singh explained that when terrorists attacked civilians in Pahalgam, they acted on their “dharma of terror,” but India’s soldiers responded with their karma of courage, striking deep inside terror hideouts in Pakistan and PoK.

Although Operation Sindoor is currently paused, Singh warned that it will resume with full force if cross-border terrorism re-emerges. He also ruled out any external interference, stating: “No third party can interfere in India’s internal matters.”

Drawing parallels with history, Singh linked these operations to Operation Polo of 1948, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which integrated Hyderabad into India. “Operation Polo was not merely a military action, it was Patel’s decisive blow that safeguarded India’s unity. Just as the Razakars’ conspiracy collapsed in 1948, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism has failed today,” he said.

The Defence Minister also praised Prime Minister Modi’s leadership for transforming India into a global power: “Today, India does not take dictation from anyone; it writes its own script.”

The event also showcased a photo exhibition organised by the Central Bureau of Communication and saw the presence of Union Minister of Culture & Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Coal & Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy, and MoS for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar.