
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressing the JITO Connect 2025 in Hyderabad on Friday.
India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack was against terror and not based on religion, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Friday.
“When we responded to the Pahalgam terror attack, we did not ask dharm (religion) of the terrorists. We targeted terror, not civilians or military establishments,” he said, asserting whenever the country’s pride and dignity was at stake no compromises were made.
Mr. Rajnath Singh, addressing an event of Jain International Trade Community (JITO), said this highlighting how the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot air strikes and Operation Sindoor earlier this year were strong demonstrations of India’s unwavering resolve to safeguard its citizens and territorial integrity. India’s growing military and economic strength is not meant to assert dominance over others, but to protect its cultural values, spiritual traditions and the humane ideals taught by Lord Mahavira, he added.
Hailing the Jain community’s role in the country’s development, he said under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government had ushered in various measures aimed at boosting the economy through a focus on enhancing local manufacturing and by way of schemes such as productive linked incentives (PLI), supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as formalisation and financial inclusion of small businesses.
Defence exports
Highlighting strides made in the defence exports under the Modi government, Mr. Rajnath Singh said India’s defence exports, which were around ₹600 crore in 2014 have surged to more than ₹24,000 crore and poised to cross ₹50,000 crore by 2029. “From Tejas fighter jets to Akash missiles and Arjun tanks, our armed forces are increasingly being equipped with Made-in-India platforms,” he said, citing as an example the recent government decision to procure 97 Light Combat Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics, with more than 64% indigenous content.
“Today, India manufactures everything from toys to tanks. India is rapidly progressing towards becoming the world’s manufacturing hub. And the day is not far when India will emerge as the factory of the world. And all this will be possible because the government’s intentions are clear and its policies are in the national interest,” the Minister said.
Published – October 03, 2025 07:27 pm IST