Operation Sindoor Flag Flies Beside Tricolour as PM Modi Declares ‘New Normal’ in Fight Against Terror
The flag of Operation Sindoor flew alongside the Tricolour over the Red Fort on Friday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the military strike the “new normal” for India. Calling the operation a response to the Pahalgam massacre, he said it delivered enemies “a blow beyond their imagination”.
Dressed in a saffron turban, Nehru jacket, and white safa scarf with saffron-green borders, PM Modi recalled the April 22 killings in Pahalgam, where, he said, fathers were slaughtered in front of their children. He told the nation he had given the armed forces a free hand to respond immediately.
“From the ramparts of the Red Fort, I salute the brave soldiers of Operation Sindoor… They demolished terror launch pads in Pakistan and gave terrorists a befitting reply,” he said. “If the enemy tries any misadventure, our military will decide the time and place of response.”
He also criticised the Indus Waters Treaty as “unjust and one-sided,” noting that after its suspension, water once flowing to Pakistan was now benefiting Indian farmers. “Blood and water cannot flow together,” he warned. PM Modi expressed condolences for victims of recent natural disasters and assured full Central support for affected states.
Atmanirbhar Bharat at the Core of Viksit Bharat
Calling Independence Day “a festival of 140 crore resolutions”, PM Modi pledged to make self-reliance the foundation of India’s growth. He announced:
- Energy independence by 2047, with a tenfold rise in nuclear power.
- A National Critical Mission for securing essential minerals.
- A deep-water exploration programme to cut energy imports.
The PM said solar capacity had grown 30-fold in 11 years and that India had already met its 2030 clean energy targets. Private players would now be allowed into the nuclear sector. On technology, he lamented that a semiconductor industry could have begun decades ago but was “killed in the womb” under past governments. “We lost 50–60 years,” he said, urging the youth to avoid repeating such missed opportunities.
Grand Independence Day Celebrations
The day began with a Guard of Honour by 96 personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police, led by Wing Commander AS Sekhon. Flying Officer Rashika Sharma assisted in hoisting the national flag, followed by a 21-gun salute.
Two Mi-17 helicopters showered petals—one with the Tricolour, the other bearing the Operation Sindoor flag. The mission’s logo appeared on invitations, floral displays, and even the viewing stands, alongside a watermark of the Chenab Bridge, symbolising a rising Naya Bharat.
Over 5,000 special guests, including Special Olympics athletes, international medal winners, and Khelo India Para Games champions, gathered at the Red Fort to witness the celebrations.
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