In a significant show of support for India’s naval prowess, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh boarded the Indian Navy’s indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, where he addressed the officers and crew, praising their dedication and strength.
The Defence Minister then made a powerful statement regarding India’s recent naval operations. “Operation Sindoor is not over yet. It is just a pause, a warning. If Pakistan makes the same mistake again, India’s response will be even harsher, and this time it will not even get a chance to recover,” he said, sending a clear signal about India’s stance on national security and its readiness to respond decisively.
Singh further added a stern warning: “During ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Indian Navy has impressed every Indian with its silent service. Despite remaining silent, the Indian Navy succeeded in tying down the Pakistani Army. Just imagine what will happen when someone who can keep a country’s army locked in a bottle, even by remaining silent, speaks up? This time, Pakistan did not have to face the firepower of the Indian Navy, but the world knows that if Pakistan does any unholy act this time, it is possible that this time the opening will be done by our Navy.”
Reinforcing this message, Singh stated bluntly, “If Pakistan does any unholy act this time, it is possible that this time our Navy will do the opening.”
“Today, I am very happy to be among our Naval warriors on INS Vikrant,” said Singh, standing on the deck of the Indian-built warship. “When I stand on INS Vikrant, the pride of India’s maritime power, I feel happy as well as proud and confident that as long as the security of the nation’s maritime borders is in your strong hands, no one can look at India with a suspicious eye.”
He went on to highlight the symbolic importance of the name ‘Vikrant’, which he described as representing “indomitable courage and unconquerable power.”
“The determination in your eyes reflects the real power of India,” the Defence Minister told the sailors and officers, acknowledging their role in safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests.
He went on to remind Pakistan of the Indian Navy’s decisive role in the past, particularly during the 1971 war. “Pakistan knows what happens when the Indian Navy moves with full force. 1971 is a witness to this, that when the Indian Navy came into action, Pakistan was divided into two parts. If the Indian Navy had come into form in Operation Sindoor, then Pakistan would not only have been divided into two parts, but I think it would have been divided into four parts.”
Singh underlined the Navy’s vigilance and dominance in the region: “The way you protect our maritime borders, the intensity with which you track every movement in the Indian Ocean, if that capability of yours was a part of this mission, then there is no need to tell what would have happened to Pakistan. In a way, Pakistan is very lucky that our Navy did not display its valour during Operation Sindoor.”
Joining the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi extended a warm welcome to the Defence Minister. “I welcome Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on behalf of the Indian Navy on INS Vikrant. This is a matter of pride for us that today you are present among those Navy officers who, during Operation Sindoor, successfully enabled the plans of the Indian Navy,” said Admiral Tripathi. “Your leadership has always been the force multiplier for the Indian Navy. Operation Sindoor is the best example of it.”
INS Vikrant, commissioned in 2022, is India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier and a powerful symbol of self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The ship’s deployment is seen as a crucial step toward reinforcing India’s naval capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Singh’s visit comes at a time when India continues to assert its role as a key maritime power amid growing strategic interests in the Indian Ocean. The Defence Minister’s strong words underscore New Delhi’s commitment to maintaining security and stability in regional waters.