Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday asserted that India’s Armed Forces are fully free and capable of taking all necessary action against terrorism, reiterating the government’s commitment to a firm yet restrained approach.
Speaking at an event in Hyderabad to mark the 128th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, Singh said terrorists who killed innocent civilians in Pahalgam acted according to their “Dharma”, but India’s forces responded in line with their “Karma”.
“Terrorists killed innocent civilians in Pahalgam based on their Dharma, while the Armed Forces, through Operation Sindoor, destroyed the hideouts of terrorists based on their Karma,” Singh said. He underlined that during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces displayed patience and exercised complete caution to ensure that civilian populations were not harmed while dismantling terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
“Our Armed Forces are free and capable to take all kinds of action against terrorism in the future as well,” he said, adding that the country’s security forces continue to act with restraint and moral clarity under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The event in Hyderabad was part of the commemorations for Alluri Sitarama Raju, who Singh described as a ‘warrior-saint’ and an inspiration for India’s modern defence and development strategy.
“Alluri ji was not just a revolutionary, he was a movement. His guerrilla resistance despite limited resources remains a shining example of courage driven by principle. He taught us that standing up against injustice is not just a right, it is the nation’s Dharma,” Singh said.
He drew parallels between Alluri’s life and the government’s current vision for tribal empowerment, citing initiatives such as the PM Tribal Development Mission, Skill India, and the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Campaign as steps towards mainstreaming tribal communities with dignity and opportunity.
“From being denied basic rights during colonial rule to becoming the guardians of sustainable growth today, our tribal brothers and sisters have come a long way, and we are committed to walking alongside them,” Singh said.
He emphasised that these efforts are driven not just by policy but by a deep emotional commitment to the values Alluri championed. Calling Alluri a symbol of unity who transcended caste barriers, Singh said his legacy continues to inspire India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
The Defence Minister described the birth anniversary celebrations as a testament to India’s 11 years of transformative governance and its resolve to build a ‘Viksit Bharat’ in the coming decades.
