Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Operation Sindoor sent the unambiguous message to the world that “there is no safe haven” for terrorists and other enemies of the country. The military operation, he said, ignited a “new awakening” and “self-confidence”.

The PM’s comments came a day before the Lok Sabha is scheduled to begin a 16-hour discussion on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor in which the military targeted terror infrastructure operating from Pakistan. The Rajya Sabha is set to discuss the matter on Tuesday.

“Operation Sindoor proved that for enemies of India, for terrorists, there is no safe haven. The world saw how India responds if someone attacks its security and sovereignty. When I came here from the helipad, the three to four km distance suddenly became a roadshow, and everyone was praising Op Sindoor … It has created a new awakening, a new self-confidence across the country,” he said from the sprawling grounds adjoining the Brihadisvara Temple in the ancient Chola capital of Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Tamil Nadu’s Ariyalur district.

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Modi spoke of the country’s modern military might and the legacy of the Chola empire, linking India’s contemporary strength to its civilisational roots. The PM, who attended the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival that commemorates the birth anniversary of Chola emperor Rajendra I, said the “names of emperors Raja Raja Chola and his son Rajendra Chola I are synonymous with India’s identity and pride”. He announced that grand statues of the monarchs would be built in Tamil Nadu and said they would become “modern pillars of our historic awakening”.

The PM released a commemorative coin featuring Rajendra Chola at the event, which also had live music renditions of Shaivite hymns and a performance by music maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Modi, dressed in traditional Tamil attire of white veshti, short-sleeve shirt, and angavastram, paid homage at the temple, lauding its “exquisite architecture and sculptures”. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site. “I have prayed at this historic temple for the welfare of 140 crore Indians and the continued progress of India,” he said.

Citing ancient Tamil administrative systems, Modi said, “Several people speak about the UK’s Magna Carta while commenting on democracy. However, the Chola-era ‘Kudavolai system’ predated it.” The electoral method, he said, existed “over 1,000 years ago”.

“The Chola kings significantly enhanced their diplomatic and trade relations with regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia. It is just a coincidence that I returned from the Maldives yesterday, and today I am here.”

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Modi also spoke of spiritual unity, quoting the Shaivite philosopher Thirumoolar: “Love is Shiva, and if the world adopts this idea today, most of the crises can be solved.”

On Sunday morning, before the PM left for Gangaikonda Cholapuram, BJP and AIADMK supporters lined the streets at major junctions in Tiruchirapalli, waving flags and cheering as his convoy passed by. He arrived in the ancient Chola city, landing on the dry bed of the historic Chola Gangam lake.

In the town, odhuvars (singers of devotional hymns) sang verses from the Thevaram, a collection of devotional poetry dedicated to Shiva. Crowds lined the route from the helipad to the temple, waving flags and chanting slogans. At the venue, separate enclosures were set up for Shaivite saints such as the Madurai Adheenam and the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam.

Modi arrived in Tamil Nadu on Saturday evening, flying into Tiruchirapalli International Airport from Thoothukudi after launching infrastructure projects worth Rs 4,900 crore. There, he was received by Governor R N Ravi, state Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, Minister K N Nehru, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) leader G K Vasan, and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami. This was the first face-to-face meeting between the PM and Palaniswami since the AIADMK and BJP renewed their electoral alliance in April.