New Delhi [India], July 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that no leader in the world told India to stop Operation Sindoor, carried out to retaliate against the Pahalgam terror attack.
PM Modi's remarks have come amid opposition parties targeting the government over United States President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. India has firmly rejected any claim of third-party mediation, stating the cessation of hostilities came about after Pakistan's DGMO called his Indian counterpart.
Speaking in the debate in Lok Sabha on Operation Sindoor, PM Modi also said that India has proved that nuclear blackmailing will not work anymore, and neither will India bow down to nuclear blackmailing.
The Prime Minister said he told US Vice President JD Vance during phone conversation that India will respond strongly if Pakistan launches an attack after India launched Operation Sindoor.
India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 and conducted precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK. With Pakistan resorting to escalation through military action, India pounded Pakistan's airbases.
"No leader in the world told India to stop its operation. On the night of 9th May, the Vice President of America tried to talk to me. He tried for an hour, but I was in a meeting with my army, so I could not pick up his call. Later, I called him back. The Vice President of America told me on the phone that Pakistan is going to launch a big attack. My answer was that if Pakistan has this intention, it will cost them a lot. If Pakistan attacks, we will respond by launching a big attack. This was my answer," PM Modi said.
"Ab hamle ke baad mastermind ko nind nahi aaati, unko pata hain Bharat aayega aur maar kar jayega. This new normal has been set by India. 'Sindoor se leke Sindhu tak', we have taken action against Pakistan," PM Modi said.
He said Operation Sindoor makes it clear that India has decided on three points. "If there is a terrorist attack on India, we will respond in our own method, on our conditions and on our time; no nuclear blackmail would work now and we will not see terrorist-supporting governments and terror masterminds as two separate entities."
PM Modi said that Pakistan's airbases and assets suffered heavy damage in India's retaliation.
"And to date, many of their airbases are in ICU....Terrorist bases were destroyed in Pakistan. No one can imagine that anyone can reach there. Bahawalpur, Muridke, has also been razed to the ground. Our forces destroyed the terrorist bases. We have proved Pakistan's nuclear threat to be false. India has proved that nuclear blackmailing will not work anymore and neither will India bow down to this nuclear blackmailing. India has shown its technical capability. It has struck Pakistan precisely on the chest," he said.
"This is the era of technology-based war. If we had not made the preparations that we have done in the last 10 years, then we could imagine how much loss we could have suffered in this era of technology. Through Operation Sindoor, for the first time, the world recognised the power of self-reliant India. Made in India drones, missiles exposed Pakistan's weapon system," he said.
He said India's armed forces avenged the April 22 terror attack within 22 minutes with precision attacks.
"Right after Pahalgam terrorist attack, Pakistan Forces had this idea that India would indeed take a major action. They started making nuclear threats. On the intervening night of 6-7 May, India took action just as decided. Pakistan could not do anything. Our armed forces avenged 22nd April within 22 minutes with precision attacks...Armed Forces were given a free hand. They were told to decide the when, where and how...We are proud that terrorists were punished, and it was such a punishment that the terrorist masterminds have sleepless nights even to this day," he said.
"I was abroad on 22nd April. I returned immediately. And immediately after coming back, I called a meeting and we gave clear instructions that a befitting reply has to be given to terrorism and this is our national resolve. The army was given a free hand to act. And it was also said that the army should decide when, where, how and in what manner. All these things were clearly said in that meeting," he added.
PM Modi also took digs at Congress, alleging that it continues to rely on Pakistan for political narratives", has "compromised on national security" and that Congress-led governments neglected the Indius Waters Treaty.
"I stand here to present India's side before this House. Those who don't see India's side, I stand here to show them a mirror....The cruel incident that happened in Pahalgam on 22nd April, the way terrorists shot innocent people after asking them about their religion, was the height of cruelty. This was a well-thought-out attempt to throw India into the fire of violence. This was a conspiracy to spread riots in India. Today I thank the countrymen that the country foiled that conspiracy with unity," he said.
"I had said that this is a session of India's 'vijayotsav'...When I am speaking of 'vijayotsav', I would like to say - ye 'vijayotsav' aatanki headquarters ko mitti mein milane ka hai," he added.
The discussion on Operation Sindoor concluded in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. It will continue in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.