Hyderabad: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday emphasized that the NDA government has consistently demonstrated India’s resolve to protect its citizens and uphold national unity and integrity through operations such as the 2016 surgical strike, 2019 Balakot airstrike, and the recent Operation Sindoor.
Speaking at the ‘JITO Connect’ event organized by the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) here, Singh recalled the Pahalgam terror attack, where innocent lives were targeted based on religion. He said India, however, did not consider religion when conducting surgical strikes against Pakistan.
“The government targeted only terrorist centres to punish those responsible for the Pahalgam attack. We did not strike any military or civilian establishments. If we wanted, we could have acted earlier, but we refrained,” he stated.
Singh highlighted that the central government’s focus on strengthening military and economic power is not about domination, but about protecting ideals rooted in religion, faith, and human values, as reflected in the teachings of Bhagwan Mahavir.
“When it comes to India’s glory and dignity, we never compromise. Whether it is the 2016 surgical strike, 2019 airstrike, or 2025 Operation Sindoor, we have shown that we can cross any border when necessary to safeguard India’s unity and the lives of our citizens,” he added.
On defence exports, Singh noted that India’s exports were around Rs 600 crore when the NDA government took office 11 years ago, which have now surged to over Rs 24,000 crore. He projected that this figure will exceed Rs 50,000 crore by 2029.
Highlighting India’s progress towards self-reliance, Singh mentioned the decreasing dependence on foreign countries. The government has already signed an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to procure 97 Light Combat Aircraft.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogans ‘Local for Global’ and ‘Vocal for Local’, he said India now manufactures a wide array of products “from toys to tanks.” He added, “India is rapidly moving towards becoming the world’s manufacturing hub, and the day is not far when it will emerge as the factory of the world.”
Singh also projected that India is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, with a GDP of USD 7.3 trillion.
Commending the Jain community for their contributions to national development, he said, “Though Jains make up just 0.5% of India’s population, their tax contributions account for roughly 24% of total collections. Whether in pharma, aviation, or education, Jains lead the way due to their disciplined and value-based approach to life.”
Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy, Telangana IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, and state BJP president N Ramchander Rao were also present at the event.
