ARIYALUR: Prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Operation Sindoor has demonstrated to the world that there are no safe havens for terrorists and enemies of the nation.India places the highest priority on its national security today, Modi said at the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival, the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I at Brihadisvara temple built by the Chola emperor at Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district. The event also commemorated the Chola emperor’s maritime expeditions 1,000 years ago and the construction of the temple.Modi said the world witnessed India’s firm and decisive response to the threat against its sovereignty during Op Sindoor. “The operation has sent a clear message, there is no safe haven for terrorists and enemies of the nation,’’ he said.His remarks come ahead of a likely heated debate in Parliament, with opposition parties set to question the govt over the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent military action.Modi said India’s response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack has given rise to new confidence in the people of India, which the whole world has taken note of.In his speech in the assembly poll-bound state, the Prime Minister, wearing a dhoti and angavastram, struck a connection between Chola’s past military might and how the country now prioritises national security and sovereignty.Modi said he felt jubilant to see Operation Sindoor resonating among people greeting him during his road show in Trichy.He also sought to position the Cholas within the Hindu framework, recalling the towering temples they had built. “Our Shaivite tradition has played a vital role in shaping India’s cultural identity and the Chola emperors were key architects of this legacy,’’ he said. Tamil Nadu remains one of the most significant centres where this living tradition continues to thrive, he said.Celebrating the Cholas for their regional heft, Modi said Centre would erect statues for Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola in Tamil Nadu. “These statues will serve as modern pillars of India’s historical consciousness,’’ he said adding that the two emperors symbolise India’s identity and pride. The Chola era was one of the golden periods of Indian history, distinguished by its formidable military strength, he said. “The Chola era was one of the golden periods of Indian history, distinguished by its formidable military strength,’’ he said.The PM said the economic and strategic advancements achieved during the Chola era remain a source of inspiration for modern India, recalling the powerful naval force of the Cholas. He released a commemorative coin honouring Rajendra Chola I.He also highlighted the govt’s efforts to repatriate stolen cultural artifacts. “Since 2014, more than 600 ancient artifacts have been brought back to India from abroad, including 36 from Tamil Nadu,” the PM said.Noting that the day marked the death anniversary of former President A PJ Abdul Kalam, Modi said, “India needs millions of youth like Kalam and the Chola kings to lead a developed nation.”Earlier, Modi offered prayers at the temple, pouring sacred Ganga water, symbolic of Rajendra Chola’s historic expedition to bring the river’s water to Tamil Nadu a 1,000 years ago. He also listened to a concert by renowned musician Ilayaraja.The event was attended by Shaivite mutt heads, Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi, Union minister L Murugan, state ministers Thangam Thennarasu and S S Sivasankar, VCK president and MP Thol Thirumavalavan and BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran.