The North News
Udhampur, June 21
Describing Operation Sindoor a turning point in India’s counter-terrorism doctrine, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the Armed Forces’ precise and restrained execution reflected the inner strength cultivated through yoga. Speaking on the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) at Udhampur’s Northern Command base, Rajnath Singh said the operation was India’s strongest message yet to Pakistan: terror will be met with force, and unity will not be compromised.
“Operation Sindoor is a natural progression from the surgical strike of 2016 and the Balakot air strike of 2019,” Rajnath Singh said. “It was carried out so effectively that Pakistan itself called for a ceasefire. But let me be clear—Operation Sindoor is not over. We are prepared to take all necessary actions against terrorism,” he said.
Rajnath Singh said that the attack in Pahalgam had been designed to destabilise India’s social and communal fabric. “Our unity was the target,” he said, “but we responded with resolve.” He framed India’s military and civil resilience as deeply connected to the practice of yoga—an art and science of self-mastery that empowers both soldiers and citizens.
“Yoga gives clarity in chaos,” Rajnath Singh said, standing before a gathering of 2,500 troops. “It is not just about the body. It trains the mind, sharpens discipline, and strengthens the will. These qualities were on display during Operation Sindoor.”
While saluting the sacrifices of heroes such as Major Somnath Sharma and Brigadier Usman, he warned that Pakistan’s attempts to divide India from within would not succeed. “Yoga,” he said, “is the practice of unity. If even one section is left behind, the wheel of security is broken.” He called on the country to practise yoga not only at the level of the body but also at the levels of thought and society, urging Indians to adopt it not as a passing trend but as a daily ritual of integration.
Leading by example, Rajnath Singh joined soldiers in performing asanas and breathing exercises at the high-altitude base. The celebration was also attended by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, Northern Command’s GOC-in-C. Soldiers stationed in forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh also participated in yoga sessions, despite harsh terrain and conditions.
The Minister echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-standing claim that yoga is India’s “gift to the world,” arguing that it represents a vision rather than a slogan. “Yoga transcends border, religion and culture. It is a silent revolution, changing lives globally,” he said. This year’s IDY theme—One Earth, One Health—was, he noted, a reflection of India’s commitment to global well-being. “The world is our family. Yoga is a practical expression of that belief,” he said.
He urged the citizens to embrace yoga as a lifelong resolution. “It must not remain symbolic. Yoga should become part of our being. It brings positive transformation—physically, mentally, spiritually,” he said.
