Jaipur/Jodhpur: Defence minister Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan against any future provocation, saying India would respond even more forcefully if provoked again, while citing the success of “Operation Sindoor”.Addressing a public meeting Thursday in Merta town of Nagaur district after unveiling the statue of Rajput ruler Rao Duda, Singh said the operation sent a strong message across the border. “Perhaps, Pakistan will not dare to look at India with hostility again. But I want to say that if it does, what has not happened till now will happen,” he said.Singh asserted that India adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and made it clear to the world that it would not tolerate attacks on its citizens. “From the beginning, our policy was not to provoke anyone. But if anyone provokes us, we do not spare them either,” he said.Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year, Singh said terrorists targeted people after asking about their religion, which he said was against India’s cultural values.“Indian culture says there should be no division based on caste or religion. We believe in justice and humanity. But terrorists from Pakistan were shooting people after asking their religion,” he said.The Defence minister said the country was outraged after the Pahalgam attack and India’s response shook the enemy.“We proved that India is no longer a country that silently suffers. If anyone attacks our citizens, we will enter their homes and respond. No border can stop us,” Singh said.Highlighting India’s military actions in recent years, he said the armed forces demonstrated extraordinary capability through the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot airstrike and most recently through Operation Sindoor.Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who also addressed the gathering, said the Indian Armed Forces taught Pakistan a lesson during Operation Sindoor.Paying tribute to Rao Duda, Sharma said the Rajput ruler established a legacy of bravery and self-respect that brought pride to Rajasthan. He urged people to draw inspiration from such heroes and pass on Rajasthan’s heritage to future generations.Later, Singh unveiled the statue of former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in Jodhpur. Highlighting Shekhawat’s landmark initiatives, the Defence minister said the former Rajasthan chief minister introduced the Antyodaya scheme, intending to uplift the poorest families and ensure that development reached the last person, stating that the scheme then earned global acclaim.Referring to electoral reforms, Singh said Shekhawat long advocated the concept of “One Nation, One Election”, arguing that simultaneous polls would save public resources, reduce administrative disruptions, and allow govts to focus more effectively on development work.
