Through Operation Sindoor, India has used its ‘right to respond’ to the attack on its soil and the armed forces scripted history by acting with precision, precaution and focus to destroy the camps used to train terrorists in Pakistan and PoK. No civilian population was harmed. The armed forces, by giving a befitting reply under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have showcased how political will matters – indeed, Modi has no dearth of either willpower or determination, given his stated policy of zero tolerance for terror. The action was limited only to the terror camps and other terror infrastructure used for training terrorists, with the aim of breaking their morale. PM Modi personally named the operation “Sindoor," a reference to the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women, symbolizing their marital status. The name was chosen to honour the widows of the Pahalgam attack, humanising the victims and emphasising the emotional toll of the tragedy. The attack killed 26 people, predominantly Hindu men, including newlyweds, leaving behind widowed women. A widely circulated image of a grieving widow symbolised the tragedy, influencing the operation’s codename. The codename also reflects the warrior spirit, as sindoor is sometimes associated with valour in Indian culture. Within a few hours of Operation Sindoor, there was a virtual dedication of 50 strategically-significant infrastructure projects of BRO – 30 bridges, 17 roads and three other works, to the nation by the Modi government. These projects, constructed at a total cost of Rs 1,879 crore, are spread across six border States and two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, West Bengal & Rajasthan, reinforcing India’s security, connectivity and development in remote regions. In the last two years alone, BRO has completed a record 161 infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,600 crore, including 111 projects last year. In the last four years, BRO has completed 456 infrastructure projects with a total expenditure of Rs 13,743 crore. Modern defence capability depends not just on weaponry but also on the infrastructure that supports it. You can have the fastest tank or the most advanced aircraft, but if they can’t reach where they are needed on time, they serve no purpose. Hence border infrastructure is crucial and critical. BRO plays an instrumental role in making sure our military is always ready and well-positioned. The Sela Tunnel has become a symbol of this resolve to enhance connectivity in strategically important areas. The vision of PM Modi to revitalise border villages, with initiatives like the Vibrant Villages Programme under which the Modi government is increasing connectivity by building about 35 kilometres of roads every day, is exemplary.

Operation Sindoor was only retaliatory and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities were targeted. India under Modi, demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution. These steps come in the wake of the barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered. Operation Sindoor is Modi’s way of living up to his avowed commitment that those........

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