TFP Bureau, New Delhi/Lucknow, May 12, 2025: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday declared Operation Sindoor not just a military campaign, but a powerful symbol of India’s political, social, and strategic will. Addressing a virtual gathering during the inauguration of the BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility Centre in Lucknow, the Defence Minister asserted that the operation sent a clear message—terrorists and their backers are no longer safe, even beyond India’s borders.
“Whenever India acts against terrorism, even the land across the border becomes unsafe for those who shelter terrorists,” Shri Singh said, referencing previous operations such as the surgical strikes after Uri, the airstrikes following Pulwama, and now the coordinated military actions in response to the Pahalgam attack. He emphasized the Modi government’s “zero tolerance” stance on terrorism and praised the armed forces for delivering justice to victims of cross-border attacks.
Shri Singh also criticized Pakistan’s retaliation during the operation, noting that while Indian forces targeted terrorist infrastructure with precision, Pakistan attempted to strike civilian areas including temples and churches. “Our forces responded with restraint and strength,” he said, adding that strikes extended as far as Rawalpindi, home to Pakistan’s military headquarters.
The Defence Minister’s remarks came during the inauguration of a key defence infrastructure project—the BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility Centre—built over 200 acres in Lucknow as part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC). He called it a “landmark moment” for India’s self-reliance in defence and for boosting regional employment and industrial growth.
“BrahMos is more than a missile. It is a message of deterrence and a testament to the strength of India’s defence capabilities,” he said. The centre, developed with an investment of approximately ₹300 crore, will house facilities for assembling booster subassemblies, avionics, ramjet engines, and propellants. It is also expected to create around 1,500 jobs and support the skilling of local youth in defence technologies.
Shri Singh quoted former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to highlight India’s need for strength and global respect: “In this world, fear has no place. Only strength respects strength.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, present at the inauguration, echoed these sentiments and called Operation Sindoor a message to the world that India no longer tolerates terrorism. He also highlighted the strides UP is making in defence manufacturing, with the UPDIC attracting ₹4,000 crore in actual investments so far and 180 MoUs signed, totaling a proposed investment of ₹34,000 crore.
The Chief Minister commended the partnership between the central government and the state in promoting Make-in-Indiaand Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and lauded the facility’s potential to prevent migration by generating local employment and upskilling youth.
The event was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brijesh Pathak, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat, DG BrahMos Dr. Jaiteerth R. Joshi, and other senior officials and dignitaries. As part of the inauguration, five of the 36 newly selected BrahMos Aerospace trainees were felicitated for their role in the future operations of the facility.
