India will go to any extent to avenge hit on national pride: Rajnath Singh

NEW DELHI: Home minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday that India now had a new approach towards terror — that it will go to any extent to retaliate to an attack that hurts national pride.

“Look, this is a changed India. So, it was clear to us that we will retaliate. It was not such a difficult decision as people make it out to be. We are very clear that we will go to any lengths for the sake of protecting our national pride … no country in the world can stop us from taking countermeasures,” Singh told ET in an exclusive interview.

The home minister made it clear that the military action should not be politicised, but added that talking about national pride and national self-confidence is a different matter.


“It’s politicisation when someone asks how many terrorists were killed. That’s like raising doubts on your security forces… it’s not their (armed forces’) job to count the dead. But there’s nothing wrong in talking about our national pride or how such decisive action is a reflection of national self confidence,” he said.

‘Committed to J&K’s Development’
On whether he felt the issue will reap political dividends for the BJP in the upcoming general elections, Singh said, “Don’t link this with elections. This was a counter-terror operation, a targeted mission. It was a must for any self-respecting nation. We can go to any extent for our national pride. And we took abundant precaution not to harm civilians.”

Singh asserted that the operation was successful and completed with precision. “All I can say is this mission was carried out on the basis of very credible intelligence inputs. It was targeted, and it was a successful operation,” Singh told ET when asked about the demand for evidence.

The minister emphasised that no stone will be left unturned for the development of Jammu and Kashmir. “The people of Kashmir are our people, and we will do everything to ensure they are a part of the process of making India an economic superpower.”