During a visit to the Bhuj Airbase in Gujarat on Friday, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the Indian Armed Forces, declaring that Pakistan’s terror bases were destroyed in just 23 minutes. “It took less time than having breakfast to eliminate them,” he said, referring to Operation Sindoor.
Calling the operation a “trailer” of India’s military power, Rajnath warned, “The full movie is yet to come.”
He also lauded the indigenously developed BrahMos missile, stating, “In India, there’s a saying — showing stars in broad daylight. BrahMos has shown Pakistan what daylight looks like in the dead of night.”
Following recent hostilities with Pakistan, Indian leaders have been regularly visiting key military installations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Adampur Airbase in Punjab, while Rajnath Singh has been touring others — from Badamibagh in Kashmir to Bhuj in Gujarat.
While in Srinagar, the Defence Minister raised a serious concern: “Can a country like Pakistan be trusted with nuclear weapons?” He suggested that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal should be placed under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Rajnath also questioned the recent $1 billion loan granted to Pakistan by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “This funding could end up supporting terrorist groups,” he warned, urging a re-evaluation of the IMF’s decision. India had previously expressed its objections during a May 9 board meeting in Washington, citing Pakistan’s failure to meet lending conditions.
Despite India’s concerns, the loan was approved. On Friday, Rajnath reiterated that a large portion of the funds could be used to rebuild dismantled terrorist infrastructure.
Highlighting the contrast between the two nations, he said, “Pakistan constantly seeks loans from the IMF, while India contributes to the fund so that poor countries can benefit.”
Meanwhile, opposition parties have been demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss national security, especially after the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. They’ve also called for Prime Minister Modi to attend an all-party meeting — a demand that has yet to be met. So far, the Prime Minister has avoided such meetings, choosing instead to address the nation through televised speeches.
In response, the ruling BJP has launched a nationwide campaign — the “Tiranga Yatra” — to celebrate the success of Operation Sindoor. The march will continue for 11 days. The government also plans to send parliamentary delegations to various countries to expose Pakistan’s role in supporting terrorism and to increase diplomatic pressure internationally.
