The North News
Vadodara, December 2
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said India will give a decisive response to any force that “does not understand the language of peace”, as he praised the Armed Forces for the successful execution of Operation Sindoor. Speaking at a Sardar Sabha event in Vadodara as part of a ‘Unity March’ marking the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Defence Minister compared India’s approach to terrorism with Patel’s leadership style. Patel, he said, preferred dialogue but did not hesitate to take firm action, citing the former deputy prime minister’s role in the integration of Hyderabad into the Indian Union.
The Minister said the operation had reinforced India’s reputation as a peace-loving country that “never provokes”, but would respond strongly when threatened. “The world is acknowledging the bravery and capability of our Armed Forces,” he said.
The Defence Minister described Sardar Patel as a pivotal figure in unifying India and said the government’s decisions, including the abrogation of Article 370, had strengthened his vision of national integration. He added that India was now engaging with the world “on its own terms” and emerging as a significant economic and strategic power.
The Defence Minister said India had moved from the world’s 11th-largest economy in 2014 to its fourth-largest today, attributing the rise to reforms aimed at “minimum government, maximum governance”. He reaffirmed the government’s ambition to build a “Viksit Bharat” — a developed India — by 2047.
Citing Patel’s emphasis on self-reliance in defence, Rajnath Singh said India was now progressing rapidly under the Make in India initiative. Defence exports, he said, had risen 34-fold in 11 years, and the government aims to achieve ₹3 lakh crore in domestic defence production and ₹50,000 crore in exports by 2029.
He also highlighted the proposed Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025, which would remove from office any person holding a top position who is arrested on serious charges and denied bail for 30 days. The measure, he said, was meant to uphold ethics and integrity in public life.
He urged young people to uphold the unity and sovereignty of the country and carry forward Patel’s values. “We must instil the ideals of Sardar Patel in future generations. That would be a true tribute to his legacy,” he said. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and other officials attended the event.
