The North News
New Delhi, October 3
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said India’s military operations, including the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot air strikes and Operation Sindoor in 2025, reflect the country’s uncompromising stance in safeguarding its citizens and territorial integrity. Speaking at an event organised by the Jain International Trade Community (JITO) in Hyderabad on Friday, Singh said India had never asked about the “dharma of terrorists” and had always targeted terror, not civilians or military establishments.
Rajnath Singh stressed that India’s military and economic strength was not meant to dominate others but to protect cultural values, spiritual traditions and the humane ideals of Lord Mahavira. He highlighted the rapid growth of the defence sector under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, noting that defence exports had risen from around ₹600 crore in 2014 to over ₹24,000 crore in 2025. He expressed confidence that the figure would exceed ₹50,000 crore by 2029.
“Our armed forces are increasingly being equipped with Made-in-India platforms, from Tejas fighter jets to Akash missiles and Arjun tanks,” he said. The Minister described India’s defence progress as a step towards Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), citing the recent order of 97 Light Combat Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which will feature over 64% indigenous content.
“India is manufacturing everything from toys to tanks. The day is not far when India will become the factory of the world,” Rajnath Singh said.
Rajnath Singh also underlined India’s broader economic momentum. Currently the world’s fourth-largest economy, India is projected to reach a GDP of $7.3 trillion by 2030, making it the third-largest globally.
Citing International Monetary Fund data, he said India was on track to become the second-largest economy by purchasing power parity by 2038. The minister lauded contributions of Jain figures such as Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Dr D.S. Kothari, Dr Jagdish Chandra Jain and Dr Meenakshi Jain, calling them sources of national inspiration.
He praised government efforts to preserve Jain heritage, including the return of more than 20 stolen Tirthankara idols from abroad and the recognition of Prakrit, the language of Jain scriptures, as a classical language of India.
Urging citizens to draw strength from the teachings of Lord Mahavira, he said principles such as non-violence, truth and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness) should guide India as it aims to become a developed nation by 2047.
