RABAT, MOROCCO — During an interaction with the Indian community in Rabat, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday praised the decisive actions of the Indian Armed Forces during ‘Operation Sindoor,’ an operation launched in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam. Singh reaffirmed that the forces were given complete freedom to respond and emphasized that India’s actions were “measured and non-escalatory.”
The Minister articulated India’s approach by quoting a line from the Ramcharitmanas, a revered epic poem.
“Humne dharm dekh kar nahi, karm dekh kar maara hai,” he said, which translates to “We did not kill based on religion, but based on actions.” This quote, according to Singh, highlights the nation’s firm yet restrained approach to targeting only those responsible for the attack.
The interaction was part of a two-day official visit to Morocco, a first for an Indian Defence Minister. The Indian community welcomed the Minister and commended the government’s strong response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali citizen.
Beyond military matters, Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the significant progress achieved by India over the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that despite global and geopolitical challenges, India has emerged as the fastest-growing major economy, rising from the 11th to the 4th largest in the world. India is now poised to break into the top three economies soon.
Singh also shared key statistics reflecting the nation’s progress, including:
A surge in the number of startups from 18 unicorns a decade ago to 118 today.
The impressive growth of the defence industry, with production reaching ₹1.5 lakh crore and exports exceeding ₹23,000 crore to more than 100 countries in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The Defence Minister concluded by praising the Indian diaspora, whose hard work and character reflect positively on the nation. He invoked the words of Swami Vivekananda, who stressed that in Indian culture, “it is character that truly defines a person.” The members of the diaspora reciprocated, expressing pride in India’s growing global stature, underpinned by its strong economic foundations and military strength.
