Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 12 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday expressed his gratitude to the Indian Defence Forces for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan, stating that the "neighbouring country has now understood that they cannot fight with India in a direct war."
Maharashtra CM Fadnavis highlighted that Mumbai's status as India's economic capital makes it a potential target, necessitating a review meeting with defence forces to assess the state's security preparedness and future planning.
Speaking to reporters, CM Fadnavis said, "Our military has shown Pakistan its place. Pakistan's many airbases and terror hotbeds were destroyed. By now, they would have understood that they cannot fight with us in direct war, but we have seen in history that they have chosen proxy wars as well. Hence, the economic capital of Mumbai has become vulnerable, and hence we had the review meeting today regarding the preparations and further planning..."
The review meeting took place two days after India and Pakistan agreed to stop all firing and military action on land, in the air, and at sea. However, hours after that, reports came of Pakistan violating the cessation of hostilities with India's air defence intercepting Pakistani drones amid a blackout in Srinagar and various other parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Punjab.
Earlier, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde thanked all three services for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan and said that Mumbai is the financial capital and the state government needs to be "fully alert", as the city was earlier targeted by terrorists in 2008.
"An important meeting related to security has taken place with the Army, Navy, Air Force and Civil Defence under the chairmanship of the CM. A discussion was held to appoint a nodal officer. This is the financial capital, so Mumbai is always targeted. We need to be fully alert," Eknath Shinde told ANI.
He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for empowering the defence forces with a free hand in responding to threats.
"I want to thank all three services for giving a befitting reply...Thanks to PM Modi for giving free hand to all three services. Earlier, no one ever dared to give free hand to the armed forces, no matter how bad the situation was," he added.
The security meeting, chaired by CM Fadnavis at his official residence, was attended by top officials from the defence forces and key state departments.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were also present at this meeting on security and preparedness in the state. From the Indian Army, Lt. General Pawan Chadha, Colonel Sandeep Seal, from the Indian Navy, Rear Admiral Anil Jaggi, Naval Commander Nitesh Garg, and from the Indian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Rajat Mohan, were present at the meeting. Representatives from the Reserve Bank, JNPT, BPT, Mumbai Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange, ATS, and Home Guard were present.
The meeting discussed the exchange of intelligence information, more use of technology and what precautions to take. The cooperation expected from the state government with the defence forces and the establishment of a faster coordination mechanism were discussed.
State Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Secretary in the Chief Minister's Secretariat, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department Iqbal Singh Chahal, Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Mumbai Municipal Corporation Additional Commissioner Vipin Sharma, Additional Director General of Police, Civil Security Prabhat Kumar, Additional Inspector General of Police, Intelligence Department Shirish Jain, Additional Chief Secretary, Disaster Management, State Sonia Sethi, as well as Mumbai District and Mumbai Suburban District Collectors and officers of other departments were also present in the meeting.
The 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, orchestrated by the Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed the lives of over 170 people and left hundreds injured. Rana's extradition and subsequent interrogation are part of India's ongoing efforts to bring all conspirators of the attacks to justice.
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to strike multiple terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir after a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam last month.