The North News
Gandhinagar, May 27
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that the longstanding notion of Pakistan waging a “proxy war” against India is outdated, arguing that recent developments, including the May 6 Operation Sindoor, mark a deliberate shift towards direct military engagement. Speaking in Gandhinagar at an event marking 20 years of Gujarat’s urban development, Modi underscored what he described as Pakistan’s “calculated military strategy” to destabilize India, citing the elimination of nine terrorist bases within 22 minutes. The strikes were recorded with cameras, he said, ensuring “complete transparency” for both national and international scrutiny.
“This is no longer about hidden war or militancy,” Modi said. “The full honours given to terrorists in Pakistan—flag-draped coffins, military salutes—reveal a formalized doctrine of aggression. If such a strategy is adopted, the response will be decisive.”
He praised the success of Operation Sindoor, describing it as a national moment of pride. “Every corner of India is echoing with the roar of this mission,” he said, adding that the operation symbolized India’s unwavering resolve to eliminate terrorism and emerge stronger as the country approaches its centenary of independence in 2047.
Modi called for deeper economic independence, urging citizens to reduce reliance on foreign goods and embrace locally made products. He connected the campaign against terrorism to broader themes of national self-reliance and dignity, urging Indians to re-evaluate their consumption patterns.
“From religious idols to everyday items, we must stop importing and start believing in Indian craftsmanship,” he said, reaffirming support for the “One District, One Product” model to strengthen domestic industries.
Reflecting on past policies, Modi criticized historical neglect of water infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. He accused past governments of failing to maintain desilting mechanisms and keeping water gates closed, resulting in a drastic reduction in water storage. While referencing the now-suspended Indus Water Treaty, he asserted India’s right to fully utilise its water resources.
He also revisited India’s first brush with cross-border terrorism in 1947, attributing the ongoing violence in Kashmir to historic missteps, including not following Sardar Patel’s advice to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Modi reaffirmed that India had defeated Pakistan militarily on multiple occasions and that its recourse to proxy fighters was a result of repeated failures in direct conflict.
“From 1947 to Pahalgam, this legacy of terror continues,” he said. “But India is no longer restrained. We have decided to uproot terrorism entirely.”
