During a public address in Rajasthan, prime minister Modi praised “Operation Sindoor,” a retaliatory action by the indian armed forces.

PM Modi bikaner Speech

Prime minister Narendra Modi on thursday hailed Operation Sindoor by the indian armed forces in retaliation to the dastardly april 22 pahalgam terrorist attack during a public address in Rajasthan.

PM Modi remarked Rajasthan’s Deshnoke in Bikaner district where he flagged off the Bikaner-Mumbai express train and inaugurated the redeveloped Deshnoke Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

“When sindoor becomes an explosive, the result is for everyone to see,” Modi said during his address amid thundering applause from the audience. “Our govt gave a free hand to all three armed forces, together they created such a trap that Pakistan was forced to go down on its knees,” he added.

“… On april 22, terrorists removed the Sindoor from the foreheads of our sisters after asking about their religion. The bullets were fired in pahalgam, but 140 crore indians felt the pain,” an emotionally charged Modi remarked during the rally.

Every citizen of the country had taken a united pledge that the terrorists would be wiped out and to give them an unimaginable punishment… By the valor of our forces, we fulfilled that resolution,” the PM said.

“Our government gave a free hand to all three forces. All three forces created such a ‘chakravyuh’ that Pakistan was brought to its knees…,” he added.

In a direct message to pakistan, Modi said the neighboring country “can never win a war against India.”

“Whenever such a war occurs, pakistan repeatedly faces defeat. That is why pakistan has made terrorism its weapon to fight against India.” He also cautioned that india is “not going to be scared of nuclear threats.”

He reiterated India’s stance that there will be no dialogue or trade with Pakistan. “If talks, then only about pakistan occupied Kashmir,” he said. “India has made it clear, the Pakistan Army and its economy will have to pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack,” Modi added.

Bikaner, May 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to Pakistan on Thursday, declaring that any future terrorist attack on Indian soil would invite a swift and heavy retaliation — one that would directly impact Pakistan’s military and its already strained economy.

Speaking at a public event in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, PM Modi referred to Operation Sindoor, a recent retaliatory strike by Indian forces, and emphasized the nation’s resolve against terrorism. “The world and India’s adversaries have witnessed what happens when Sindoor (vermilion) turns into Barood (explosives),” he said, symbolizing the transformation of peace-loving India into a nation capable of powerful counterattacks.

According to the Prime Minister, Indian forces eliminated nine major terrorist hideouts within just 22 minutes in response to the deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 26 innocent tourists were killed. He declared that Pakistan would be held accountable for any bloodshed caused by terrorists operating from its soil.

“If Pakistan continues to sponsor terrorism, it will be made to pay for every drop of Indian blood spilled—and that cost will be borne by its army and its economy,” Modi stated emphatically.

He also reiterated India’s longstanding position on water-sharing agreements, suggesting that Pakistan would no longer have unchallenged access to rivers that rightfully belong to India.

Three-Pronged Strategy: The ‘Operation Sindoor’ Doctrine

Highlighting India’s new approach, PM Modi outlined the three key tenets of the country’s anti-terror strategy developed under Operation Sindoor:

Swift and Decisive Retaliation: Every terrorist strike on India will face a calibrated and forceful response, with the timing and nature of that response to be determined solely by Indian armed forces. No Fear of Nuclear Threats: India will no longer be intimidated by the possibility of nuclear escalation and will act in its national interest without hesitation. Unified Targeting: Terror groups and the states that sponsor them will no longer be treated separately. Both will be held equally accountable.

He dismissed Pakistan’s oft-used argument of “non-state actors” as irrelevant, stating that India will now treat both terrorists and their enablers in the same bracket.

A New Red Line

With a firm tone, PM Modi signaled a new phase in India’s counter-terrorism posture, granting full operational autonomy to the Indian Armed Forces. “During Operation Sindoor, our Army, Navy, and Air Force worked in complete coordination and forced the enemy to kneel in submission,” he said.

As tensions rise along the Line of Control (LoC) and diplomatic pressure mounts on Pakistan, India’s assertive message is clear: there will be no tolerance for terrorism, and any provocation will be met with unflinching resolve.

KKN Gurugram Desk | Addressing a massive public rally in Bikaner, Rajasthan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday delivered a powerful message on national security, terrorism, and India’s military preparedness. Referring to the recent cross-border retaliatory strikes, he highlighted India’s swift and decisive response to the April 22 terrorist attack that killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

PM Modi praised the Indian armed forces, stating that under his government, they were given full operational freedom, and as a result, they executed an intelligence-led, high-impact operation that eliminated key terrorist infrastructure within just 22 minutes.

Key Quote: “When Sindoor Turns Into Gunpowder…”

The most quoted line from Modi’s speech was:

“The world has seen what happens when sindoor (vermilion, a symbol of Hindu married women) turns into barood (gunpowder).”

This metaphorical reference was seen as a symbol of cultural resolve and military strength, tying traditional values with national defense. It struck an emotional chord with the audience and quickly trended on social media platforms as a symbol of India’s new aggressive defense doctrine.

22 Minutes, 9 Terror Camps Destroyed

While addressing the public, the Prime Minister confirmed that India’s security forces destroyed nine major terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) within a swift and synchronized operation that lasted only 22 minutes. This was in direct retaliation to the April 22 attack, widely attributed to Pakistan-sponsored terrorist groups.

“We didn’t wait for international approvals. Our brave soldiers, with precision and planning, completed the operation successfully in less than half an hour,” said PM Modi.

This operation is being referred to as “Operation Sindoor”, symbolizing India’s red-line policy against terrorism and its zero-tolerance approach.

Full Operational Freedom to Indian Armed Forces

PM Modi emphasized that his government has redefined the role and autonomy of the Indian military. Under his leadership, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have been empowered to make tactical decisions on the ground without political delay.

“We gave our soldiers full freedom. What they did has forced Pakistan to bend. They created a war strategy that made Pakistan helpless and forced to retreat,” he said.

This is not the first time Modi has credited the forces with independence; he previously made similar statements after the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes.

🇮🇳 Context: The April 22 Terror Attack in Pahalgam

The current crisis stems from a terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, where 26 Hindu civilians were killed in a religiously targeted massacre. Indian intelligence agencies traced the planning and execution to terror outfits backed by Pakistan’s ISI.

Following this, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar publicly declared that India would retaliate against all terror networks operating from Pakistan, regardless of their location.

Strategic Impact of the Operation

According to defense analysts, India’s swift and precise action:

Neutralized major terror infrastructure across the border

Sent a strong message to Pakistan’s military leadership

Demonstrated real-time inter-services coordination

Established a new benchmark in counterterrorism doctrine

A former Army General commented:

“This wasn’t just a tactical strike. It was a geopolitical message — India will strike back swiftly and without hesitation when its citizens are attacked.”

Why Bikaner? The Political and Strategic Significance

Bikaner, a border district in Rajasthan, holds strategic relevance due to its proximity to the India-Pakistan international border. PM Modi’s choice to deliver this message from Bikaner was seen as a deliberate move to:

Reassure border populations

Mobilize public sentiment ahead of upcoming elections

Showcase government action on national security

Bikaner has also been a traditional stronghold for the BJP, and this high-voltage address is likely to further energize the party’s base.

Social Media and Public Reactions

The metaphor “sindoor turns into gunpowder” quickly became a viral phrase. Netizens, politicians, and veterans flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook with messages of support.

Hashtags trending include:

#SindoorToGunpowder

#ModiInBikaner

#22MinutesStrike

#IndiaStrikesBack

One user wrote:

“This is not just about revenge. It’s about redefining national security. Proud of our soldiers.”

Another posted:

“PM Modi’s words give us strength. We finally have a leadership that doesn’t bow down to terror.”

What It Means for India-Pakistan Relations

The situation has further strained diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Islamabad. Pakistan, while denying involvement in the Pahalgam attack, has not yet officially responded to the 22-minute operation, though reports suggest military units in PoK are on high alert.

There’s a growing expectation that Pakistan may attempt limited retaliation, but experts believe India has altered the rules of engagement by setting a precedent of preemptive, fast, and proportionate responses.

What Comes Next?

As India strengthens its counterterrorism posture, several key developments are expected:

Increased troop surveillance along LoC and IB Further diplomatic pressure on Pakistan via international forums Expansion of Operation Sindoor into a multi-phase defense doctrine Possible introduction of new anti-terror legislation

India is also likely to present evidence of the April 22 attack’s cross-border planning to the United Nations and international counter-terror agencies, seeking diplomatic isolation for Pakistan.

Modi’s National Security Legacy

With repeated references to bold military decisions, PM Modi is positioning himself as India’s strongest national security leader in recent decades. His doctrine of decisive retaliation has gained approval among voters, particularly the youth, armed forces personnel, and urban middle class.

Political analysts believe that this speech, like his Balakot reaction in 2019, will shape electoral narratives around nationalism, defense, and self-reliance.

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Bikaner (Raj), May 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that the country’s enemies have learnt what happens when ‘sindoor’ becomes gunpowder, and lauded India’s armed forces for creating such a trap that Pakistan was forced to go down on its knees.

In his first public address in Rajasthan after Operation Sindoor that was launched in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the prime minister slammed Pakistan, and said in response to the attack on April 22, “we destroyed nine biggest terror hideouts in 22 minutes”.

“The world and the enemies of the country have seen what happens when ‘sindoor’ turns into ‘barood’ (gunpowder),” he said at the public meeting in Palana in Bikaner, which shares border with Pakistan.

“Ab toh Modi ki naso mein lahu nahi garam sindoor beh raha hai (Not blood but sindoor runs in Modi’s veins),” he said, adding, Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack.

He said India’s response to the terror attack was not a game of vengeance but a “new form of justice” and there will be no trade or talk with Pakistan, there will be talk only about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

In a stern message to Pakistan, he said India is not going to be scared by nuclear threats and if there is a terrorist attack on the country then it will give a befitting reply.

“If there is a terrorist attack on India, it will get a befitting reply. The time and methods will also be decided by our army and the conditions will also be ours. India is not going to be scared by the threat of atom bomb. Thirdly, we will not see the perpetrators of terror and the government patronising the terrorists separately. We will consider them as one,” he said, adding these are three “sutras” from Operation Sindoor.

He said the game of Pakistan of state and non-state actors will not work anymore.

Lauding the armed forces for carrying out Operation Sindoor, he said “Our government gave free hand to all three armed forces. Together they created such a trap that Pakistan was forced to go down on its knees”.

Noting that Pakistan had tried to target the Nal air base in Bikaner but could not cause any damage to it, he said in contrast “No one knows when Pakistan’s Rahimyar Khan air base will open again. It is in ICU. The attack has destroyed it”.

“Pakistan can never win a direct fight against India. Whenever there is a direct fight, Pakistan has to face defeat again and again. That is why Pakistan has made terrorism a weapon to fight against India,” he said.

Modi recalled his public rally in Rajasthan’s Churu after the 2019 Balakot airstrike, and said he had then stated that, “Saugandh mujhe is mitti ki, mein desh nahi jhukne dunga, mein desh nahi mitne dunga (he had taken a vow that he would not let the country down)”.

“Today, from the land of Rajasthan, I want to say to the countrymen that those who had set out to erase sindoor have been wiped out. Those who shed the blood of Hindustan have paid for every drop of it. Those who were proud of their weapons are now buried under a pile of rubble,” he said.

“This is not a game of vengeance, but this is a new form of justice, this is Operation Sindoor. This is not just anger, this is the fierce form of a capable India. This is the new form of India,” he said.

Referring to the 2016 surgical strikes and the Balakote air strike, Modi said earlier India carried out attacks by entering into their houses but now the attack was directly on their chest.

He said Pakistan used to spread terror, kill innocent people and create an atmosphere of fear in India.

“Now, Modi, the servant of ‘Maa Bharti’, is standing here with his head held high. Modi’s mind remains cool but his blood is hot,” he said.

He said there will be no trade or talk with Pakistan, there will be talk only about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

“And if Pakistan continues to export terrorists, it will have to beg for every penny. Pakistan will not get India’s rightful share of water. Playing with the blood of Indians will cost Pakistan dearly. This is India’s resolve and no power in the world can shake us from this resolve,” he said.

The prime minister observed that security and prosperity both are necessary for the creation of a developed India.

“This is possible only when every corner of India becomes strong,” he added.

Modi also spoke about the multi-party delegations being sent abroad to to highlight India’s resolve to confront state-sponsored terrorism emanating from Pakistan and assert its right to self-defence following Operation Sindoor.

“To expose the truth, our all party delegations are reaching all over the world. The real face of Pakistan will be shown to the whole world,” he said.

India carried out precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructure early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Indian forces launched a fierce counter-attack on several Pakistani military installations.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the military confrontation after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. (Agencies)